The Los Angeles Lakers anticipate guard Marcus Smart will return to action later this week, head coach JJ Redick said Tuesday before the club faced the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Smart, 31, has missed “a couple of weeks,” according to Redick, while recovering from a persistent ankle injury. The veteran completed a full on-court session earlier Tuesday and experienced no setbacks. “He had a great day today on the court, trending toward playing at some point this week,” Redick told reporters.
The injury list has thinned the Lakers’ backcourt depth as the regular season winds down. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are already ruled out for the remainder of the regular schedule—and possibly longer—leaving Los Angeles short of ball-handling, playmaking and perimeter defense. In their absence, Redick has turned to Luke Kennard as the primary initiator, a role typically outside the sharpshooter’s comfort zone.
Smart’s imminent return offers some relief, but the Lakers will still open the postseason as underdogs. Tiebreakers assure Los Angeles can finish no lower than fifth in the Western Conference, yet the club remains without two of its top scorers.
Brought in last summer for his defensive pedigree, Smart has also been praised for his locker-room presence. Redick noted that the guard’s ability to hold high-profile teammates accountable has had a “positive” influence on team culture.
Los Angeles concludes its 2025-26 regular season later this week, and Smart’s status will be updated closer to tip-off.
Source: LakersNation.com
