Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart said his ability to lead traces back to growing up as the youngest of four brothers, a dynamic that forced him to speak up early in life.
“Being the youngest of four boys, you kind of have to stand up for yourself,” Smart told reporters during media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Sept. 29, 2025. “If you don’t, you get left behind, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
The 31-year-old veteran joined the Lakers this offseason and is working toward full health after dealing with Achilles tendinopathy and a recent illness. Head coach JJ Redick said Smart “looked awesome” when he returned to practice last week.
Smart, a three-time All-Defensive First Team selection, explained that he is easing into a vocal role on his new team. “When you come to a new team, you sit back and feel it out,” he said. “You don’t want to be the guy who talks too much without knowing what’s going on. The first couple of days I evaluated the team, but guys came up to me saying, ‘Hey, we need you to talk. What do you see?’ That gives you confidence to use your voice.”
With more than a decade of NBA experience and multiple deep playoff runs, Smart adds another leadership layer alongside LeBron James and Luka Dončić. The Lakers expect the veteran guard to be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Source: LakersNation.com
