Marcus Smart isn’t going to win Defensive Player of the Year — not with Victor Wembanyama basically owning the trophy for the foreseeable future. But that isn’t the point. The real story in Los Angeles is simpler: Smart is playing at a DPOY level, and that alone is transforming how far the Lakers can realistically go.
Through the start of the 2025-26 season, Smart is averaging 9.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, while logging 28.2 minutes and sitting tied for 4th in the NBA in steals. His defensive pressure, instincts, and physicality look every bit like the Smart who won the award in Boston — a version of him many thought might not return.
The Lakers’ DPOY
The Lakers haven’t had a real perimeter stopper in years. Last season, the team basically relied on a 40-year-old LeBron James to be their best defender — a testament to LeBron’s greatness, but a massive red flag for a team trying to compete in the West.
This version of Smart fixes that immediately.
He is the Lakers’ best defender along with Jarred Vanderbilt. The Lakers have two tone-setters who can blow up actions and pressure ball-handlers. The difference is that Smart is playable on offense, whereas Vando hasn’t been for the majority of the season. That alone makes Smart indispensable.
And with a less-than-ideal defensive backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Smart’s presence is the balance point. He takes the toughest matchup, organizes the defense, and protects L.A.’s offensive stars from being hunted all game.
The Leadership They Need
Smart isn’t just defending — he’s leading.
He’s vocal, directs traffic, and calls out coverages in real time. He gives the Lakers a defensive quarterback they simply didn’t have last year. And with his championship-round experience, he brings a level of toughness that ripples through a roster still shaping its identity.
Smart leads by example in a way the Lakers simply can’t ask of LeBron anymore. At 40, LeBron understandably takes defensive possessions off to conserve energy, so Smart becomes the guy who actually walks the walk — setting the tone with effort that never dips.
Should He Start?
That remains JJ Redick’s ongoing lineup question. Sticking with Rui Hachimura offers size and scoring. But Smart provides structure and balance. If the Lakers want the cleanest balance between offense and defense, Smart in the starting lineup feels inevitable. The only question is when JJ makes the switch.
A Higher Ceiling
If Smart keeps playing at this level — organizing the defense, locking down guards, covering for Luka and AR, and battling every possession — he becomes the exact piece the Lakers have been missing in their push toward true contender status.
He may never win another DPOY award, but if he’s the Lakers’ DPOY, that’s more than enough.
