Marcus Smart Era Faces Rocky Start with Los Angeles Lakers
The Marcus Smart era with the Los Angeles Lakers has encountered challenges even before the official start of the 2025-26 NBA season. The former Boston Celtics guard is set to miss part of the Lakers’ training camp due to ongoing injury concerns.
Injury Concerns for Smart
Smart, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Washington Wizards in the last two seasons, has been hindered by various injuries. Over these two seasons, he participated in only 54 games.
According to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Smart is currently dealing with “a little Achilles tendinopathy.” He described Smart’s participation as limited during media day events earlier this week.
Coach’s Optimism
Redick is optimistic about Smart’s recovery timeline. “We expect him to be fine by next week,” he mentioned. Despite smart’s challenges, the coach believes he will return to full health soon.
Smart’s Reflections
During Lakers Media Day, Smart expressed the difficulty of the past two seasons, stating, “These last two years have been rough.” He emphasized his focus on regaining full health, noting the struggle in returning to peak performance.
- Marcus Smart played with the Celtics before joining the Lakers.
- Smart has missed significant playing time due to injuries.
- The Lakers will face the Celtics on December 5 at 6 PM ET.
Positive Environment
Smart acknowledged the positive reception from the Lakers organization and his teammates. He believes this support will aid his recovery and adjustment to the new team.
The Lakers are looking forward to integrating Smart into their lineup as they prepare for the upcoming season, despite the rocky start.
