Marcus Smart Claims NBA Team Forced Him To Play Through Injury Before Lakers Stint 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 signings 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.’” Smart has had long-standing issues with his dominant right hand, stemming back to an off-court injury in 2018.#los_angeles_lakers #dave_mcmenamin #washington_wizards #memphis_grizzlies #marcus_smart
LeBron James is missing his third consecutive game for the Lakers as he continues his recovery from arthritis in his left foot and a left elbow contusion. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that James participated in the team’s pregame shooting routine before the matchup against the Wolves but decided to take additional time before returning to action. Coach JJ Redick confirmed that James joined the team’s film session on Monday but did not take part in on-court practices. This marks James’ third straight absence, following an initial 14-game absence due to a sciatic nerve issue earlier in the season. Despite the setbacks, James has remained relatively durable, sitting out only four of the team’s previous 48 games prior to his recent absences. De’Anthony Melton is set to play in his first back-to-back games of the season as the Warriors face the Bulls. According to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, Melton played just 20 minutes in the previous game against the Jazz to ensure he was fresh for this milestone. Coach Steve Kerr noted that Melton, listed as questionable, has been a consistent scorer for the Warriors, averaging 20 or more points in four of his last six games. The Warriors’ strategy of integrating young players like Melton, Moses Moody, and Gui Santos into the roster is highlighted as a key factor in their long-term sustainability. Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports explained that these team-friendly deals allow the Warriors to build around their stars while managing financial commitments, citing Miles McBride’s recent extension with the Knicks as a similar example. Luke Kennard’s elite three-point shooting has become a critical component of the Lakers’ offensive strategy. Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times reported that Kennard is shooting 56.#lebron_james #jj_redick #dave_mcmenamin #de_anthony_melton #nick_friedell
