Marcus Smart is looking like less of a rental and more of a long-term culture fit.
When the Los Angeles Lakers signed Marcus Smart, few knew what to expect of the former Defensive Player of the Year. Smart's metrics generally suggested he was making a positive impact on his teams in recent years, but injuries were frequently an issue as he entered his 30s.
A third of the way through the 2025-26 regular season, Smart has made it clear that those writing him off were too quick to pick up their pens.