Marcus Smart’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers is already making waves—but what fans didn’t know until now is just how instrumental Luka Dončić was in making it happen.
During his unveiling at a Lakers press conference, Smart peeled back the curtain on the conversations that helped shape his decision to head west. And it all started with an unexpected message.
“I got a call from my agent who said, ‘Hey, Luka Dončić just reached out.’ Honestly, I was surprised,” Smart shared with reporters. “Then, it happened again the next day. That kind of persistence shows how serious he was.”
The former Celtics star, who spent his career battling against Dončić on the hardwood, admitted the personal outreach meant a lot. “I’ve been on the wrong end of Luka’s brilliance plenty of times. But for a guy of his caliber to say, ‘I want you beside me,’ that’s powerful,” Smart added.
The Lakers’ front office has been busy retooling their roster this offseason, aiming to build a legitimate championship-contending squad around Dončić. Smart’s addition signals a defensive boost and veteran leadership—two things the Lakers need in their evolving core.
As trade whispers continue to swirl around the Lakers—especially involving big names like LeBron James and Nikola Jokić—Smart’s arrival adds fuel to the buzz that a new era is brewing in LA.
“I’m just excited to start this new chapter,” said Smart. “And honestly, it means a lot that it started with Luka believing in me.”
