Marcus Smart Remembers First Defensive Assignment Against Kobe Bryant
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart looked back on the first time he defended Kobe Bryant during a video released by the Lakers on Aug. 8, 2025, for the NBA’s Defense Week campaign.
Smart, drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 2014, crossed paths with Bryant in the final two seasons of the five-time champion’s career. Already regarded as an elite defender in his rookie year, Smart was asked to guard the 17-year veteran in their early meetings.
“Guarding Kobe. A moment you never forget,” Smart said in the clip shared on the team’s official X account.
From Opponent to Teammate
Ten years after that first matchup, Smart signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles following a buyout from the Washington Wizards. The 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year now plays home games under the No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys that honor Bryant in the Crypto.com Arena rafters.
Early Encounter With Luka Dončić
The video also revisited another early Smart assignment: guarding a 16-year-old Luka Dončić during a 2016 preseason exhibition between the Celtics and Real Madrid. Dončić, who later became a league MVP candidate, joined the Lakers this offseason and reportedly helped recruit Smart to bolster the team’s perimeter defense.
Smart spent the last two seasons battling injuries and a rebuilding situation, but Los Angeles believes the veteran’s previous All-Defensive form can reemerge alongside Dončić in the backcourt.
Source: Lakers Nation
