Nick Smith Jr. is heading overseas for a bigger role, agreeing to a one-year deal with Real Madrid after becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported the move, and Smith’s agents confirmed the agreement. The 22-year-old is expected to step in as Real Madrid’s lead point guard.
Smith spent the 2025-26 season with the Lakers after first joining the team on a two-way deal in September 2025. Los Angeles later converted that contract into a standard NBA deal, which made him eligible for the postseason.
In 30 games with the Lakers, Smith averaged 6.2 points and 1.0 assists while shooting 39.5% from three-point range. He also logged plenty of time with the South Bay Lakers, where his offensive load was much heavier. In 18 games there, he posted 19.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per contest.
He had a few strong moments with Los Angeles, including a 25-point, 6-assist outing against the Portland Trail Blazers in November during a Lakers win.
Still, the Lakers chose a different path. As they reshaped the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they declined Nick Smith Jr.’s $2.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season, opening the door for him to hit unrestricted free agency.
That decision sends Smith into a new opportunity with one of Europe’s biggest clubs, where he’ll have a chance to handle the ball and shoulder more responsibility than he likely would have found in the NBA at this stage.
Smith entered the league with real buzz after the Charlotte Hornets took him No. 27 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Over three seasons with the Hornets and Lakers, he averaged 7.6 points in 17.5 minutes per game.
His move to Real Madrid doesn’t close the door on the NBA. At 22, he still has time, and a strong EuroLeague season could put him back on the league’s radar.
It’s also a notable landing spot. Smith will now suit up for the same Real Madrid team where Luka Doncic developed before coming to the NBA in 2018. For Smith, this isn’t necessarily an ending - it’s a chance to reset and build something bigger.
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