It’s clear from the offseason moves made by general manager Rob Pelinka that the Los Angeles Lakers are going all-in on an NBA championship in 2025.
With star forward Luka Doncic exercising his $52.6 million player option for next season, and point guard Luka Doncic under contract for at least 2025 (he’s eligible for a four-year, $228.6 million extension on Aug. 2), the Lakers have started piecing together a much more competitive roster with the additions of 7-foot center Deandre Ayton, former first-round forward Jake LaRavia, and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.
And it’s not just Pelinka who’s been recruiting talent to L.A.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Smart admitted that Doncic actually reached out to him a few times and convinced him to come join him, James, Austin Reaves and company.
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“When you get a guy like Luka calling, referencing, checking on you, trying to see where you’re at, to see if you want to come join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here, and for him to say that he could really use my help, that meant a lot,” Smart said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“Played against Luka a lot, been on a lot of opposing ends of Luka magic, and to be able to come out and be on his side this time means a lot.”
Smart also disclosed that Doncic contacting him came as a small surprise considering they two didn’t necessarily have a close friendship off the court, though he did admit they shared a close admiration for one another and always gave each other “flowers.”
“It first came, I was working out and I get a call from my agent saying, ‘Hey, Luka’s reached out’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, whatever,’” Smart joked. “Then another day, the same thing — Luka reached out again, and now it’s real.
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“It’s no longer what ifs, it’s real and it’s something we need to talk about. That was a great feeling like I said, and that’s what kind of got the things rolling to me to be here and I’m excited to be here.”
The additions of Ayton, Smart and LaRavia likely make the Lakers a threat to the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder at the top of the Western Conference.
After adding Doncic in early February, L.A. went 19-13 down the stretch to close out the regular season before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The post Marcus Smart Reveals How Luka Doncic Convinced Him to Join the Lakers appeared first on Newsweek.
