Marcus Smart Backs Deandre Ayton Through Lakers Struggles

The Los Angeles Lakers just took a 139-96 beating from the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Luka Doncic leaving in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury. At 50-27, they are still third in the Western Conference, but the playoffs are close, and the injury list keeps growing.

Through all of it, veteran guard Marcus Smart has quietly been one of the most important people in that locker room.

Smart signed with the Lakers last summer after a buyout from Washington, starting 53 games and averaging 9.5 points in 28.8 minutes. Deandre Ayton arrived that same offseason from Portland, a former No. 1 overall pick who had been through Phoenix, then Portland, and was now trying to find his footing again.

When the outside noise around Ayton got loud this season, Smart was the first one to speak up.

Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) talks with guard Marcus Smart (36) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

From the very beginning of the season, Smart was pulling DeAndre Ayton aside, correcting him, guiding him.

When Ayton exited a game in Denver in the first quarter with knee soreness and never returned, Smart stayed back after the loss and addressed reporters on his teammate's behalf, even though Ayton had already left the building.

Ayton was getting hammered publicly for his performances after the All-Star break. Smart, speaking to Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register, said:

"I know as of lately he's been getting a lot of backlash for his effort and his play. He understands it. I know it might not seem like it, but he does and he wants to do good and he wants to help this team and I think that's what's more frustrating for him, because he's trying. But the way he's trying is not working and he's still trying to figure it out."

He said all of that without Ayton even in the room.

How Marcus Smart Became the Heart of the Lakers Locker Room

The players around the league noticed. The NBA named Smart one of 12 finalists for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, voted on by players themselves. Coach JJ Redick has called him a "calming voice" for Ayton all season, present in huddles, at halftime, and at the team's El Segundo facility every day.

Ayton compared Smart to Jae Crowder, his former Phoenix Suns teammate, the kind of guy who sees everything and always says the right thing at the right time. Then he went further, via Royer:

"He's a brother's keeper."

And when asked to describe Smart's role on the team, Ayton kept it simple:

"(He's) our pitbull. And he's the one that set the tone, really, and we all follow. He throws a punch, we all going to throw a punch. You got a 1,000 punches, you know what I'm saying? That's Marcus."

Smart is currently out with a right ankle contusion. With Doncic now injured as well and the playoffs around the corner, the Lakers need everyone healthy. But more than that, they need Smart back in that locker room.

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