Marcus Smart reveals pressure to play injured, feeling like Memphis's "scapegoat" during a "nightmare" season before his Lakers resurgence.
Marcus Smart has built his career on toughness, but the veteran guard says his time with the Memphis Grizzlies pushed that reputation to a breaking point.
Now thriving with the Los Angeles Lakers, the former Defensive Player of the Year didn’t hold back when reflecting on his injury-riddled stint in Memphis, describing the situation as a frustrating stretch where he felt pressured to play through pain and ultimately became the organization’s “scapegoat.”
Speaking to ESPN, Smart said the problems began when he was recovering from a finger injury in Memphis. While doctors medically cleared him, the 32-year-old insisted he wasn’t physically ready to return to the floor.
“I wanted to be 100%, to give everything I got,” Smart said. “They kept saying, ‘Your doctor said you’re ready.’ But physically I wasn’t there yet. The finger was still weak. This is my dominant hand.”
Despite those concerns, Smart said the team continued pushing for him to suit up. At the same time, he began hearing rumors that he didn’t want to be in Memphis — a narrative he strongly disputed.
The veteran guard said he tried to build relationships with the organization and his teammates, even organizing events off the court. His wife hosted players at his birthday celebration, he gifted customized boxing gloves to teammates, and wrote holiday cards to staff members with gift cards inside.
Yet the perception around him, he claimed, continued to shift.
After missing 21 games while recovering, Smart finally returned to the lineup in February 2025 against the Toronto Raptors. Though he went scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting, Memphis still outscored Toronto in his minutes during the win.
The next day, the Grizzlies traded him to the Washington Wizards.
That move, however, cemented how he felt about the situation.
“It made me feel like the scapegoat for a franchise in flux,” Smart said.
The trade was part of a three-team deal that also involved the Sacramento Kings, with Memphis including a first-round pick largely to offload the remaining money on Smart’s contract and avoid luxury tax concerns tied to future roster moves.
Memphis declined to comment when asked about Smart’s claims.
After a brief stint with Washington, Smart negotiated a buyout and entered free agency before eventually signing with the Lakers on a two-year deal worth $11 million.
The move has allowed him to revive his reputation as one of the league’s toughest defenders.
Smart has started 49 games for Los Angeles this season, averaging 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals. More importantly, he has helped anchor the Lakers’ defense. The team’s defensive rating drops significantly when he’s off the floor, highlighting his impact.
His gritty style has also stood out in marquee matchups. In a recent win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Smart held All-Star guard Anthony Edwards to just 2-for-15 shooting, including 0-for-5 on possessions he directly defended.
For Smart, the opportunity in Los Angeles represents more than just another stop in his career. It’s a chance to rewrite the narrative after two seasons defined by injuries and uncertainty.
“We’re tired of hearing people talk,” Smart said. “If you’re a competitor, you want to prove them wrong.”
With the Lakers climbing the Western Conference standings and Smart rediscovering his defensive identity, that redemption story may already be unfolding.