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Marcus Smart Claims NBA Team Forced Him To Play Through Injury Before Lakers Stint

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Ishaan Bhattacharya | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 1:30 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are reaping the rewards of a series of strong roster decisions since the Luka Doncic trade from February 2025. While they didn't make any flashy additions, their additions since last summer have all led to rewards on the court this season. But even with all these positive players, nobody has had the impact Marcus Smart has had.

Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, joined the Lakers on a two-year, $11 million contract last summer after being bought out by the Washington Wizards. He had a few irrelevant seasons in the NBA as part of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Wizards, but his time with the Lakers has brought his winning contributions to the forefront once again, leading the team with a +209 plus/minus this season.

In a recent interview with ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Smart revealed that a great part of his success this season comes from getting the opportunity to get healthy after leaving the Grizzlies. He claims the Grizzlies forced him to play through an injury on his right index finger.

"I wanted to be 100%, to give everything I got. As I'm still working out and getting ready, they're just like, 'No, your doctor said you're ready now.' And I'm like, 'I hear what my doctor said, but ... it's how I feel. Yes, surgically, the finger is fine. But physically, no. The finger is still weak. I'm still strengthening it. This is my dominant hand.' So, they didn't want to hear it, and they just kept saying, 'You need to play.'"

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36)Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Smart has had long-standing issues with his dominant right hand, stemming back to an off-court injury in 2018. While with the Boston Celtics, Smart had a five-inch shard of glass wedged into his right hand after punching a picture frame in his hotel room after a loss to the Lakers.

He's dealt with issues since then, as a shard of glass had to be left in his palm to avoid further damage amid risks of losing control over the limb. He's played through this in the NBA despite moments where his hand has gone numb while defending or shooting.

Smart averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 39 games over two years with the Grizzlies. He's having a better season with the Lakers despite having lower counting stats, averaging 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, and proving to be an integral cog in the 42-25 franchise's success this season.

He solves the lack of POA defense that hampered the Lakers in the 2025 Playoffs, adding balance to a Lakers team with an abundance of offensive stars. He's a star in his role and is having a career resurgence at age 32 after what was clearly a challenging few years away from competitive NBA franchises.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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