Luka Doncic is known for his passing brilliance, whether it be his one-handed lasers in transition, no-look bounce passes through traffic, step-back lobs from the logo. But his most important assist this season may have come before he even stepped on the NBA court.
Marcus Smart officially signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025. And according to Smart, the person who made that happen was not a general manager or an agent, it was in fact Luka Doncic.
Luka’s heartfelt assist was more than just a call
“When a guy like Luka calls, checks on you, and says he needs your help, that means something,” Smart said at his first Lakers press conference.”
Doncic has made a career out of seeing angles others miss, and this offseason, he saw something the Lakers desperately needed, which is someone who can truly help on the defensive end of the floor. He reached out, made the connection, and quietly helped land the piece that could take Los Angeles to another level.
Luka Doncic has seen up close what Smart brings, the relentless pressure, the defensive instincts, the toughness that can tilt a game in the other direction. Their battles over the years built a quiet respect, even if they had never shared a locker room.
“We definitely had a mutual understanding and respect for each other… after every game playing, it was always flowers,” Smart said.
Marcus Smart talks about Luka Doncic’s efforts to recruit him to L.A. He said prior to this summer, they didn’t have a relationship beyond mutual respect as competitors: “It was always flowers” pic.twitter.com/4k4KPi3tQu
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 22, 2025
Marcus Smart brings the defensive edge the Lakers need
Smart is 31 years old and he comes in after negotiating a buyout with the Washington Wizards. He has had two injury-affected seasons since being traded from Boston, but his resume remains elite.
Smart is a former Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-Defensive First Team, and a guy who is battle-tested from deep playoff runs. He is also the exact kind of defender who can take pressure off both Luka and LeBron James, something the Lakers lacked in last year’s early playoff exit.
The team wasted no time making room, waiving Shake Milton and their feel-good story player from last year, Jordan Goodwin, to finalize the signing. It is clear how much the Lakers value what Smart brings and how much trust they are placing in Luka’s leadership, both on and off the court.
Luka Doncic's epic assist could be the key to a championship
Doncic will still deliver the jaw-dropping passes fans have come to expect, the cross-court skips, the behind-the-backs, the full-court outlets. But none of those might have the long-term impact of this offseason pass…a call, a conversation, and a new teammate ready to help chase a championship.
If this move ends up fueling a deep playoff run, it will not just be seen as a smart signing. It will be remembered as Doncic’s most important assist of the year.
