Marcus Smart Says Lakers Are “Getting It” as Veteran Guard Adjusts to Starting Role
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart believes the team is moving in the right direction after several weeks of lineup and defensive adjustments.
Before the Lakers faced the Utah Jazz on Dec. 18, 2025, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Smart discussed the club’s progress. The 31-year-old has been starting in place of Austin Reaves, providing on-ball defense and secondary playmaking alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
“There are highs and lows in every season,” Smart said, explaining that he tries not to overreact to either. “You just make sure you don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.”
The Lakers dropped near the bottom of the league in defensive rating earlier this month, but Smart’s presence has helped stabilize that end of the floor. He added that the roster has begun to “pick up” new concepts, even if the progress is not always visible for four quarters.
Smart emphasized that continued growth depends on developing chemistry: “It’s about personnel—learning what each guy likes to do on offense and defense, knowing their strengths and weaknesses, and putting everyone in a position to succeed.”
Los Angeles remains in the thick of the Western Conference standings, yet a more difficult stretch of games looms. Smart and other veterans have been instrumental in closing tight contests, a fact James acknowledged when he said he is glad to have the former long-time opponent on his side instead of across the court.
Source: Lakers Nation
