LAL

2025-26 Season

MARCUS SMART

Los Angeles Lakers | Guard | 6-3
Marcus Smart
9.5 PPG
2.8 RPG
2.8 APG
28.7 MPG
-2.3 Impact

Smart produces at an below average rate for a 29-minute workload.

NET IMPACT BREAKDOWN
Every stat, every credit, every cost — per game average
-2.3
Scoring +5.1
Points 9.5 PPG × +1.00 = +9.5
Missed 2PT 1.5/g × -0.78 = -1.2
Missed 3PT 3.2/g × -0.87 = -2.8
Missed FT 0.4/g × -1.00 = -0.4
Creation +2.3
Assists 2.8/g × +0.50 = +1.4
Off. Rebounds 0.7/g × +1.26 = +0.9
Turnovers -2.7
Turnovers 1.4/g × -1.95 = -2.7
Defense +2.3
Steals 1.4/g × +2.30 = +3.2
Blocks 0.4/g × +0.90 = +0.4
Def. Rebounds 2.1/g × +0.30 = +0.6
Fouls Committed 2.5/g × -0.75 = -1.9
Hustle & Effort +4.5
Contested Shots 3.0/g × +0.20 = +0.6
Deflections 2.7/g × +0.65 = +1.8
Charges Drawn 0.3/g × +2.70 = +0.8
Loose Balls 0.6/g × +0.60 = +0.4
Screen Assists 0.6/g × +0.30 = +0.2
Off. Fouls Drawn 0.3/g uncredited × +2.70 = +0.7
Raw Impact +11.5
Baseline (game-average expected) −13.8
Net Impact
-2.3
32th pctl vs Guards

About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works

SKILL DNA

Percentile rank vs 235 Guards with 10+ games

Scoring 51th
9.5 PPG
Efficiency 42th
53.9% TS
Playmaking 55th
2.8 APG
Rebounding 47th
2.8 RPG
Rim Protection 69th
0.14/min
Hustle 93th
0.15/min
Shot Creation 50th
0% pullup
TO Discipline 59th
0.05/min

THE SEASON SO FAR

A maddening offensive slump defined Marcus Smart's first twenty games, as disastrous shot selection frequently sabotaged his trademark defensive grit. Look no further than the 11/14 vs NOP matchup. He managed 13 points in that contest, yet posted a -2.3 impact score because he stubbornly settled for heavily contested perimeter jumpers that derailed the offense. Conversely, he generated a +3.9 impact on 12/30 vs DET despite scoring just six points. He created immense non-scoring value that night by dictating the physical tone and blowing up Detroit's dribble hand-offs to stall their attack. Unfortunately, those disciplined outings were rare. During a brutal 12/20 vs LAC performance, he missed all nine of his three-point attempts en route to a -7.6 impact score, actively tanking the unit's offensive value with his trigger-happy decisions. Smart still brings elite hustle, but his persistent refusal to stop shooting makes him a volatile liability.

A brutal, prolonged offensive slump and erratic decision-making defined this frustrating stretch of basketball for Marcus Smart. His trademark tenacity simply could not mask the damage of his abysmal shooting. On 01/07 vs SAS, he posted a disastrous -14.6 impact score, completely erasing his elite defensive metrics by scoring just two points on 1-for-6 shooting. Even when he found the basket, hidden costs dragged him down. During a 01/24 vs DAL matchup, he managed 13 points but still recorded a -6.2 impact because his over-aggression on the perimeter led to crucial blow-bys that compromised the defensive shell. He found a brief, explosive rhythm on 01/17 vs POR, pouring in 25 points to drive a highly positive +6.4 impact alongside his relentless hustle. Ultimately, his insistence on forcing the issue offensively sabotaged his elite point-of-attack defense on most nights.

This stretch of the season was defined by a maddening Jekyll-and-Hyde act, oscillating wildly between offensive catastrophes and defensive masterclasses. When his shot selection soured, his value plummeted. On 02/22 vs BOS, Smart was a complete zero offensively, bricking all seven of his field goal attempts to torpedo his night with a brutal -15.9 impact score. Even when he found a rare scoring rhythm, hidden costs frequently dragged down his overall effectiveness. During the 03/16 vs HOU matchup, he managed an 11-point scoring surge, but still registered a -6.9 impact because severe defensive breakdowns at the point of attack bled away his value. Yet, when the two-way synergy clicks, he remains an absolute game-wrecker. On 03/14 vs DEN, he generated a massive +23.0 impact score; while he dropped 21 points, it was his relentless point-of-attack defense and elite hustle that actually dictated the terms of engagement.

IMPACT TIMELINE

Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.

PATTERNS

Boom-or-bust player. Smart's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~6 points per game.

Streaky shooter — only cracks 45% from the field in 35% of games. Efficiency is all over the place night-to-night.

Defensive difference-maker. Smart consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.

In a rough stretch — 4 straight games with negative impact. Longest cold streak this season: 10 games.

MATCHUP HISTORY

Based on 64 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.

ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM

His shooting stats against each primary defender this season

J. Morant 78.6 poss
FG% 72.7%
3P% 60.0%
PPP 0.24
PTS 19
J. Brunson 52.3 poss
FG% 14.3%
3P% 25.0%
PPP 0.06
PTS 3
J. Smith Jr. 50.7 poss
FG% 33.3%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.08
PTS 4
J. Fears 49.2 poss
FG% 41.7%
3P% 25.0%
PPP 0.24
PTS 12
Z. LaVine 43.0 poss
FG% 40.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.09
PTS 4
K. Leonard 42.7 poss
FG% 16.7%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.05
PTS 2
C. Gillespie 38.3 poss
FG% 25.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.13
PTS 5
J. Murray 37.0 poss
FG% 50.0%
3P% 50.0%
PPP 0.08
PTS 3
D. Booker 36.8 poss
FG% 66.7%
3P% 75.0%
PPP 0.35
PTS 13
D. DeRozan 35.8 poss
FG% 0.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.03
PTS 1

ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED

How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.

J. Murray 75.2 poss
FG% 66.7%
3P% 62.5%
PPP 0.23
PTS 17
J. Morant 61.4 poss
FG% 33.3%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.13
PTS 8
K. Durant 59.7 poss
FG% 77.8%
3P% 100.0%
PPP 0.32
PTS 19
J. Harden 59.0 poss
FG% 50.0%
3P% 28.6%
PPP 0.25
PTS 15
Z. LaVine 53.5 poss
FG% 0.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.0
PTS 0
T. Murphy III 46.4 poss
FG% 50.0%
3P% 33.3%
PPP 0.19
PTS 9
K. Leonard 45.4 poss
FG% 38.5%
3P% 50.0%
PPP 0.29
PTS 13
S. Castle 44.8 poss
FG% 25.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.07
PTS 3
A. Edwards 41.1 poss
FG% 0.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.0
PTS 0
D. DeRozan 40.9 poss
FG% 54.5%
3P% 33.3%
PPP 0.37
PTS 15

SEASON STATS

60
Games
9.5
PPG
2.8
RPG
2.8
APG
1.4
SPG
0.4
BPG
39.9
FG%
33.6
3P%
81.6
FT%
28.7
MPG

GAME LOG

60 games played