The Lakers officially announced the signing of Smart! He will wear the number 36 jersey in the new season, and Pelinka described him as a versatile player.

On July 23, Beijing time, the Lakers announced the signing of Marcus Smart and shared a poster to welcome him. In the upcoming season, Smart will wear the number 36 jersey, making him the first player in Lakers history to do so. Previous reports indicated that the Lakers signed Smart to a two-year, $11 million contract.

Lakers' President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Pelinka stated, “Signing a player like Marcus Smart will allow us to compete at the highest level. Marcus embodies the 'winning above all' philosophy—whether contributing key performances on defense or making crucial shots in intense moments, he is a true example. He understands what it takes to win in the playoffs and will be an important voice of leadership on the team. Equipping our core stars with versatile players like Marcus is crucial for our playing style and championship aspirations next season. Undoubtedly, this is an exciting acquisition.”

Smart stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 220 pounds. During the 2024-25 season, he played a total of 34 games (7 starts) for the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes per game.

This 31-year-old player has had an 11-year career, playing for the Washington Wizards (2024-25 season), Memphis Grizzlies (2023-25 season), and Boston Celtics (2014-23 season), competing in 635 games (387 starts), averaging 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in 29.5 minutes per game. In his nine playoff journeys (2014-23 season), he appeared in 108 games (73 starts), including reaching the NBA Finals in 2022 with the Celtics, averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.1 minutes during the playoffs.

Smart was selected 6th overall by the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his debut season. He spent two college seasons at Oklahoma State University (2012-14), earning All-Big 12 First Team honors twice and being named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013.