Luka Doncic made Marcus intelligent a believer to join the Lakers

A call came from Luka Doncic a couple of times, at the beginning making Marcus intelligent to think that it was not true and then in the end he made him believe that Doncic was a Lakers seller and that he wanted Smart to be part of what they were building here in Los Angeles.

It was not as if they had a strong “relationship”, but Smart said that he and Doncic have “mutual understanding and mutual respect” from meeting in court in recent seasons.

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So, when the calls arrived while Smart was training while trying to understand his next move after accepting a contract purchase by Washington Wizards, he was influenced by Doncic to join the Lakers after canceled the exemptions.

Smart, who signed a two -year agreement for $ 11 million with the Lakers, with a player option for the second season, smiled while telling the stories during his introductory press conference on Tuesday on speaking with Doncic and persuaded to join him and Lebron James.

“For the first time, my agent, I am training and I receive a call from my agent who said, you know:” Hey Luka contacted. “And I’m like” yes, whatever “you know?” How is it okay, “Smart said at the lakers’ practice structure.” And then another day, the same-light thing has stretched again and is now real. It is no longer what it is real. It is real and it is something we have to talk about. And it was a great feeling, as I said, and that’s a bit of what kind of things that go to me I am here and I am excited to be here. “

The Lakers needed a defender of the perimeter of the attack point like Smart, in particular with Dorian Finney-Smith who went to Houston.

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Smart was the defender of the NBA year in 2022 when he played for the Boston Celtics and was three times in the first team of the NBA.

Knowing that Doncic and James are “two big with [the] The largest basketball qi I’ve ever seen in this era “has made it easy for Smart to become their teammates.

“And when you get a boy like Luka, calling, reflecting, checking you, trying to see where you are to see if you want to come and join something special that he is trying to cook here,” said Smart. “And for him to say that he can truly use my help, this meant a lot. Played against Luka.

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Doncic has a decision to make with the Lakers.

On August 2, Doncic and Lakers can speak of an extension of the contract.

He can sign a four -year agreement for $ 224 million or a three -year agreement for $ 161 million with an option of the player in 2028, which would therefore allow Doncic to sign a maximum agreement in 2028 which would give him 35% of the salary limit for that season.

In the meantime, Smart was asked what kind of recruiter is Doncic.

“It’s the same. He is a competitor. It’s the same way. He has that competitive nature when he speaks,” Smart said. “It is intrigued and that’s it. He did not really have to say much. Luka, his name, his ability, what he did, [speaks] for himself. And for me, as I said, I was on the other side of Luka Magic. So being able to come and unite and see it and testify to it on the other side is something that I was like “why not try it?” “

Smart, 31 years old, played only in 54 games in the last two seasons, the injuries have cost him time that spent both with Memphis Grizzlies and magicians. In the 34 games he played between the two teams, Smart scored an average of 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and shot 34.8% from three points.

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“Yes, I am very motivated. You know, in the last two years, for me, it has been in my eyes, a disappointment,” said Smart. “Inhami stopped me and they retained me. But as I said to my wife and my family, you know, everything happens for a reason. And it’s fun that 12 years ago I could have been here [with the Lakers] And now it is at the starting point and I’m here. And as I said, everything happens for a reason. And I only look at these reasons for me to be here, not to play because people look at me and say: “Do you know what, maybe it’s not the same?” And now this allows me to be in a place where I should be. “

Smart was the best with the Celtics, where he spent nine years and reached the playoffs every year, including reaching the NBA finals in 2022.

During its 11 seasons in the NBA, Smart marked an average of 10.6 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

The Lakers were 50-32 last season, but they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

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But he knows that the Lakers concern the winning championships and the possibility of playing with Doncic and James in the high -content basketball matches have played a role in his decision.

“It’s at the top,” Smart said. “I mean, the main objective, the reason why you go out and compete in the way I compete is to try to win the championships and what better place to be able to do it here, where the show begins and where the show ends. So, it was certainly an important part here.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.