Before Luka Doncic became an global superstar for the Dallas Mavericks — and now, the Los Angeles Lakers — he was dominating EuroLeague action as a member of Real Madrid. He won MVP of the league in his age-18 season before making the leap to the NBA and being drafted No. 3 overall. Now, seven years later, he’s a member of the Lakers and gearing up for his first full season in purple and gold.
Joining him in the backcourt is Marcus Smart, the former Boston Celtics defensive stalwart and 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year. Smart has dealt with injuries and playing for a tanking franchise, which has limited him both in games and quality of play over the last two seasons, but Doncic and the Lakers believe that elite defensive player is still there, which is why Luka helped recruit Smart to L.A.
Perhaps one of the reasons for Doncic’s admiration for Smart goes back to his days with Real Madrid. When he was 16 years old, he faced off against Smart and the Celtics in a preseason game and got his first glimpse of NBA defense in his future teammate, via pickuphoop:
Marcus Smart guarding a 16-year-old Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/CUvsaww9rz
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) July 25, 2025
In the short clip, Smart absolutely hounds the young Doncic, forcing him to give up the ball and retreat to the corner. That was a long time ago, as now Smart is heading towards the back end of his elite defensive career, while Doncic is just entering his prime as one of the league’s best players.
The two fit well alongside one another, especially if Smart can get back some of what made him a Defensive Player of the Year winner just three seasons ago.
Marcus Smart glad he doesn’t have to guard Luka Doncic anymore
From the moment he was drafted in 2012, Marcus Smart had a defined role as a perimeter defender who lived to make life hell on the opposition’s best player. And now that he has signed with the Lakers, he is now teammates with two of the best players he has had to defend in his career in Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Due to spending the first nine years of his career with the Celtics, Smart has had a ton of battles with James throughout his career, but Doncic on the other hand, has been a more recent player he has had to try and figure out. And Smart has been extremely impressed with his new teammate.
In a recent interview, Smart spoke about how difficult it was to defend Doncic and how he is relived to not have to do so anymore now that they are teammates on the Lakers.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
