Taking a look at how Marcus Smart can contribute for the Houston Rockets during the 2026 season.
The Houston Rockets head into 2026 with a solid overall lineup, but there are some things they do have to improve on.
With that in mind, there is one newcomer I believe can really help the Rockets during the 2026 season, and that is veteran guard Marcus Smart. So, let's take a look at three things Smart will bring to the Rockets in 2026.
1. Consistent Perimeter Defense
One of the most valuable things I believe that Smart can bring to the Rockets is his consistent perimeter defense.
Through Smart's career, he has been a very reliable defender on the perimeter, and he actually won the defensive player of the year award during the 2021-2022 season showing that he has the capability to be one of the best defenders in the entire NBA.
Additionally, over the course of Smart's career, he has averaged 1.6 steals per game which is a solid number and shows his ability to make a true impact on the defensive end. Standing at 6-3 and 220 pounds, Smart has a frame that enables him to be very physical with opposing guards, and in many cases it leads to him shutting them down.
So, heading into 2026, if Smart can use his physicality and solid perimeter defense to his advantage he may be able to help the Rockets get key stops throughout the season that could make the difference in this team being good versus being great.
2. Reliable 3 Point Shooting and Playmaking
Next on this list are actually two things, and those are Smart's reliable three-point shooting as well as his solid playmaking.
Starting with the three-point shooting, Smart has not been an elite shooter from beyond the arc, but he has been reliable as he has a career three-point percentage of 32.4 percent. As a far as a career high Smart did shoot 39.2 percent in 2024, so he does have the ability to knock it down.
When it comes to playmaking, Smart has been able to be a good initiator over the course of his career, as he has averaged 4.4 assists per game. As a veteran player, Smart understands how to get guys open, and that was something Houston struggled with in the postseason last year. With that said, his playmaking could be huge for this team.
Heading into 2026, if Smart can find three-point shots consistently and be a good playmaker, he may have the ability to make a major impact on the offensive end for the Rockets.
3. Significant Amount of Experience
The final thing I want to focus on for Smart as he heads into his 2026 campaign with the Rockets is his significant amount of experience.
When it comes to Smart's experience, he has plenty of it, as he has played 12 seasons in the NBA and is heading into his 13th as he enters his first year in Houston. The Rockets have a fairly young team, so to have veterans like Smart as well as forward Kevin Durant, is huge for the development of this team overall.
Another aspect of Smart's experience is the fact that he went on multiple deep playoff runs with his former team, the Boston Celtics, and he actually was also a part of the Los Angeles Lakers team that sent the Rockets home last year in the first round. With the playoff experience Smart has, he can help Houston be much more prepared for the moment so they can play better in the postseason this year.
As a result of all the regular season and postseason experience that Smart has, if he can help mentor the young players on this team and help to elevate the veterans, the Rockets may be able to make a deep postseason run and possibly compete for a Western Conference title.
