Marcus Smart’s Rollercoaster Ride in L.A. Is in Full Swing
Marcus Smart has never been the kind of player who flies under the radar. In Boston, he was the heart and soul of the Celtics for nearly a decade-diving on the floor, barking out defensive assignments, and doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up in a box score.
But he also had a flair for the dramatic, and not always in a good way. That’s part of the Marcus Smart experience-highs that can lift a team, and lows that can swing a game in the wrong direction.
Now, Lakers fans are getting a front-row seat.
Smart signed with Los Angeles this summer after a brief and turbulent stint that included injuries in Memphis and a stop in Washington. The move sent shockwaves through Celtics Nation, where seeing Smart in purple and gold is still a tough pill to swallow.
But while the jersey may be different, the player is the same. And on Sunday night against the Suns, Smart delivered the full spectrum of what he brings to the table.
A Game-Changing Sequence-for Better or Worse
With just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Lakers were cruising. They had built a 20-point lead over the Suns and looked poised to close out a statement win on the road. Then, in true Marcus Smart fashion, things got a little chaotic.
It started with a no-look pass in transition-one of those high-risk, high-reward plays Smart has never shied away from. This time, it was all risk. The pass was picked off, and Phoenix used the mistake as fuel to spark a 35-14 run that flipped the game on its head.
And it didn’t stop there.
In the final minute, with the Lakers clinging to a narrow lead and the shot clock in their favor, Smart drove into traffic and forced a contested layup instead of pulling the ball out and bleeding clock. Ryan Dunn swatted the attempt, the Suns raced the other way, and Dillon Brooks drilled a go-ahead three. Just like that, the Lakers’ lead was gone, and Smart was right in the middle of the collapse.
“It Started With Me”
After the game, Smart didn’t duck the moment.
“It started with me, I did some dumb stuff, and I'm just glad we came out with the win, and it didn't cost us,” he said.
That kind of accountability is what endeared him to fans in Boston-and what makes him such a unique presence in any locker room. He owns his mistakes, just like he owns the hustle plays that swing momentum the other way.
But in L.A., the leash might be shorter.
The Lakers did manage to escape with a win, thanks in part to a controversial foul call on Devin Booker that sent LeBron James to the line for the game-winning free throws. Still, the near-collapse raised some eyebrows, especially considering the stakes and the opponent.
A Familiar Pattern, A New Stage
If you watched Smart over the years in Boston, none of this is surprising. He’s a player who can win you a game with his effort, his defense, and his leadership. He can also lose you one with a heat-check three or a risky decision in crunch time.
In Boston, the good usually outweighed the bad. He was part of deep playoff runs, Defensive Player of the Year honors, and a culture built around toughness. There was even talk of retiring his jersey one day.
But in L.A., the calculus is different. The Lakers are in win-now mode, and every possession is magnified.
LeBron James is in the twilight of his career. The margin for error is razor-thin.
And if Smart’s high-wire act doesn’t consistently land on the right side of the line, he could find himself in a much different role-one that’s more scapegoat than savior.
Still Fighting
It’s been a winding road for Smart since leaving Boston-injuries in Memphis, a detour in Washington, and now a fresh start in L.A. And while the jersey may look strange, the fire is still there.
He’s still diving for loose balls. He’s still taking charges.
He’s still trying to make the winning play.
But as Sunday night reminded us, the Marcus Smart experience is never just about the hustle. It’s about the full ride. And in Los Angeles, that ride is just getting started.