Marcus Smart “I Still Have a Lot Left in the Tank”

Marcus Smart “I Still Have a Lot Left in the Tank”

What does it feel like to be in this building? Um, particularly with your career starting in Boston and what you meant to that organization. Um, sure that did that add to how surreal today was? It definitely did. U but it’s an honor, you know. Um, I was telling my wife, you know, to be able to play for one of the most historical franchises, let alone to play for two and to be here in purple and gold is is is a dream. I wish my mom was there to be able to see this, but uh it’s exciting. Um, it’s definitely something that being in the East with Boston, I probably never would have thought of. Uh, but once I left, it became a possibility and wanted to make sure it happened. What made you choose with the Lakers? I’m sure other teams were after you as well, but why here? Um, there’s a lot of reasons. Um, but the main one, you know, uh, being able to play with with, you know, Luca and LeBron, you know, two of the best to do it in this game. um two two greats with greatest uh basketball ceue that I’ve ever seen um in this era. Um and you know when you get a guy like Luca calling referencing checking on you trying to see where you at to to see and uh that that if you want to come and you know join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here. Um and and for him to say that you know to see that he can really use my help. Um that meant a lot you know. Um played against Luke a lot. uh been on a lot of opposing ends of uh you know, Luca Magic and uh to be able to to come out and uh be on his side at this time means a lot. Did you and Luca have a relationship prior to this process and and if if not kind of how did that get going? Like do you remember the first day he hit you up about this possibility? Um I wouldn’t say it was a relationship, but uh we definitely had a mutual understanding and respect for each other. um after every game, you know, playing it was always, you know, flowers, you know, where to go, keep going, you know, keep those guys going and vice versa. Um it first came my agent, you know, I’m working out and and I get a call from my agent saying, you know, hey, Lucas reached out and I’m like, yeah, whatever. You know, like, all right. And then another day, same thing. Luca reached out again and now it’s it’s real, you know, it’s no longer um what ifs, it’s real, and it’s something we need to talk about. And uh that was a great feeling like I said and uh that’s kind of what kind of got the things going to for me to be here and I’m excited to be here. Once you were able to make that connection with Luca on the phone like what’s his what’s Luca the recruiter like? We know what the basketball player is like. What’s the recruiter like in him? It’s the same. He’s a competitor you know and uh you know he just the same way. You know he has that competitive nature when he’s talking when he you know he’s intrigued and uh that’s it. You know he didn’t really have to say much. you know, Luca, his name, his ability, what he has done speaking spoken for itself. And uh, you know, for me, like I said, I’ve been on the other end of Luca Magic. So, you know, to be able to come and join and see it, witness it, uh, on the other side is something that I was like, why not give it a shot? Where are you in terms of motivation at this stage of your career considering, you know, the way the last couple stops went after Boston? And also just physically um compared to the guy who won defensive player of the year. Yeah, I’m I’m very motivated. Um you know, the last two years for me was in my eyes a disappointment. Uh you know, injuries uh kind of stopped me and held me back, but um like I told my wife and my family, you know, everything happens for a reason. And it’s funny that 12 years ago I could have been here. Um and now it’s full circle and I’m here. And like I said, everything happens for a reason. And I just look at those reasons was for me to be here. You know, to to not play, for people to look at me and say, you know what, maybe he isn’t the same. Um and now that allows me to be in a place where I’m supposed to be. Maybe it’s obvious, but what will your role be here? Uh just to be me, you know, come in and do what I do. that’s, you know, um, a tenacious defender. Um, you know, just bringing the intensity that I bring, uh, my leadership, um, my basketball queue as well, but just being the best that I’ve always been. And I mean, no disrespect to to Memphis, um, because when you were traded there, like the goal was very much so to win. Um, and you guys were winning before the injuries and stuff like that, but what is the opportunity to play on this stage, um, high stakes basketball? Um, How does that kind of figure into all of this? Oh, it’s it’s at the top. I mean, the the the main goal, you know, the reason you go out and you compete the way you compete is to try to win championships. And what better place to be able to do that than here where the show starts and where the show ends. So, um, that was definitely a big part of it, being able to get back on that stage, being able to get to a team that definitely could use me and I know I can make an impact and help as well. And that was a perfect fit here. You We’ve talked a lot about Luca, but I’m curious too, like I mean, you’ve been on the other end of trying to stop LeBron from scoring. You’ve chased JJ Reic around, I’m sure, a bunch, too. Um, what is it like to kind of work with those those two guys um in different roles, obviously, and and what have the conversations been like with either of them? Uh, it’s been great, you know. Um, I have been on the other end of those, you know, um, and I’ I’ve was able to learn and take away from both, you know, two different players. um rightfully so in their own own way and great at what they do. You know, JJ is one of the best shooters that we had, especially off the move in this league. And LeBron is who LeBron is, and we all know what he’s capable of and what he’s done in his career. And um you know, to be able to be on the other side to learn from him, not playing against him, but you know, as a teammates um and just talking to JJ and, you know, reliving those moments and and and just really um getting me back to understanding that, you know, I still have a lot left in the tank and uh he’s going to allow me to show it. What what did you learn about even from afar about JJ as a coach? Obviously didn’t mention that you played against him, but as a coach on the posting, what did you learn about him that you didn’t know beforehand? That he’s the same as as he played. No, but uh no. Um I don’t think JJ gets a lot of credit for his his IQ and ability of of reading the game. Um not only as a player, but as a coach. And I think being a player and played the way that he played in those many years helps him now as a coach. This team won 50 games last year. They were the three seed in the West. We look at the West like I don’t know 12 13 teams that think they have a shot to be a playoff team. How do you think they kind of or you guys now stack in in the standings going into the year and and what’s your realistic shot of making a deep run? I think we stack right up there with the best of them. Um you know um and I think we can our ceiling is high. I think there’s no ceiling. I think if we all lock in and come and do what we’re supposed to do, we can have a real good shot at. You were such a a cultural piece in Boston is know you said the job is to come here and be yourself. Is it a little different though when you go into a room that has established leaders, people that have been in the building and stuff like that and I guess how do you sort of envision navigating kind of being you but like maybe you’re not the heartbeat of the team the same way um at least on day one. Yes, you know, listen, you know, I’m I’m I’m I’m raised and the way I was raised and and the support staff I have around me, we all know nothing is nothing is given. You have to go earn it, you know, and that’s who I am and that’s what I pride myself off of. Uh, I understand that I’m coming into, you know, a new home where, you know, um, there’s already tenants here who’ve been here doing it for a while. And my job is to to not come over and take over, but to come in and increase what they’re already doing and help them help us be the best that we can be. Do you know what number you’re going to wear? 36. Of course. Since you did play for the Celtics, you know how Laker fans feel about the Celtics, have you have you encountered anything since you’ve been here something? Not yet, but I’m I’m expecting it and uh I wouldn’t expect nothing less. Thank you for the show. Thank you guys.

Marcus Smart discusses joining the Lakers.

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