Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart could rejoin the lineup Sunday when the team visits the Dallas Mavericks, head coach JJ Redick said Thursday.
Redick told reporters that Smart, sidelined by a right ankle sprain, completed an on-court workout earlier in the day. The veteran will miss his sixth consecutive game Thursday night, but medical staff will evaluate him again ahead of the matchup in Dallas.
“Marcus went through a full session today and is trending in the right direction,” Redick said, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on X. “If everything checks out, he could be available Sunday.”
The Lakers are 4-2 during Smart’s absence, yet teammates and coaches say they have missed the 32-year-old’s late-game poise. Smart averages 9.8 points, 5.1 assists and 1.4 steals this season, often anchoring defensive possessions and organizing the offense when stars LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell sit.
Durability has been a recurring issue for Smart throughout his 12-year career, a by-product of his aggressive style that frequently sends him diving for loose balls. Even so, he has avoided major injuries since signing with Los Angeles last summer.
League officials this week named Smart a finalist for the 2025-26 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, recognizing his locker-room leadership and accountability. The honor comes as the Lakers seek to secure full health ahead of a postseason run.
Los Angeles enters Thursday’s contest at 46-29, fifth in the Western Conference.
Source: Lakers Nation
