Lakers' Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart Reportedly 'Working Hard' on Conditioning
Veteran point guard Marcus Smart "has been working hard on his body this summer," according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Stein said the same is true for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, following up on an earlier report from The Athletic's Dan Woike.
Woike wrote in June that Dončić "has been incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason" and "dropped significant weight."
The 26-year-old's physique and lack of elite athleticism have been talking points since before he arrived in the NBA in 2018. And even after he emerged as an MVP-caliber talent, the Dallas Mavericks were concerned enough about how he'll age they traded him to the Lakers.
When it comes to Smart, he has battled injuries over the last few seasons and watched his game slip a bit. Getting bought out by the Washington Wizards and agreeing to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers was a sign of how his value has suffered.
"Conditioning was an undeniable issue for Smart last season, but the Lakers were convinced during their pursuit that they will see a sleeker version of the 2021-22 DPOY," Stein reported.
Fans know what to expect with Dončić. He averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists after his trade to the Lakers, and his performance might even improve now that he has a full offseason to adjust to life in L.A.
The contributions of role players such as Smart might do more to raise the team's ceiling in 2025-26. Losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round of the 2025 playoffs was a reality check in terms of how much more was needed around the tandem of Luka and LeBron James.
Smart is a career 32.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc, so he'll do little to address the Lakers' spacing problems. He could be a massive help on defense if he can rediscover some of what made him three-time All-Defensive honoree over a four-year stretch from 2018-22.
Based on Stein's report about his offseason training, Smart is aiming to make the most of his time in Southern California.
