Marcus Smart’s Jaw-Dropping Buzzer-Beater Caps Epic Grizzlies Win

Los Angeles — The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the first weeks of training camp discovering exactly what they gained when Marcus Smart inked his two-year, $11 million deal in July. The former Defensive Player of the Year wasted little time imprinting his trademark tenacity, barking out coverages next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James during five-on-five drills, and forming an early defensive partnership with forward Jarred Vanderbilt that coaches believe can become the backbone of new head coach Darvin Ham’s pressure scheme. Yet Smart’s relentless style also produced the first scare of the preseason: a tight right Achilles that kept him out of two exhibition games last week. Speaking after Tuesday’s practice in El Segundo, the 31-year-old sounded relieved. “It was more precautionary than anything,” Smart said. “I’ve been through playoff wars; missing a couple of tune-ups to feel 100 percent for Opening Night is the smart move—no pun intended.” Team medical staff confirmed he is expected to play Friday against Phoenix. On the court, early returns have been encouraging despite the brief layoff. In his lone preseason appearance, Smart logged 17 high-energy minutes without scoring, but finished +12 in plus-minus thanks to three deflections, two steals and a pair of drawn charges that ignited transition offense for Doncic and second-year guard Max Christie. Assistant coach Phil Handy noted, “We didn’t sign Marcus for buckets. We signed him to set a defensive tone this roster hasn’t had since the 2020 title run.” Questions remain about how Ham will juggle back-court minutes among Smart, Austin Reaves and rookie sharpshooter Isaiah Collier. Smart insists roles will evolve naturally: “You don’t worry about who starts when the goal is a championship. Some nights I’ll guard the opposing star; some nights I’ll be a screener letting Luka cook. That’s basketball.” Nonetheless, league insiders point to Smart’s 38 percent clip on catch-and-shoot threes post-All-Star break last season in Washington as a reason he may close games alongside Doncic against switch-heavy defenses. Off the floor, former Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown said he expects Smart’s leadership to resonate in a locker room that skews younger than the LeBron-centric rosters of years past. “He holds guys accountable the way Draymond does in Golden State,” Brown told reporters. With the October 29 opener against the defending champion Nuggets looming, Los Angeles hopes Smart’s gritty edge is the final piece that elevates a star-studded yet defensive-shaky roster back to contender status. If his health cooperates, the Lakers may have secured the league’s most disruptive perimeter stopper—exactly when they needed him most.