Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas didn’t hold back after the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly signed Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the year, to pair alongside Luka Doncic. The move followed a buyout from the Wizards and came with a two-year, $11 million deal aimed at bolstering LA’s perimeter defense. Arenas blasted the move as he reacted, “Getting gas station looking n**gas now, man. Whose next? Huh? Kwame Brown?”.
In a salty rant toward reporter Shams Charania, Arenas mocked the Lakers for making what he viewed as a low-tier addition, referencing Smart’s recent struggles with injuries and diminished production.
Lakers need Smart’s defense
Despite Arena’s harsh critique, the Lakers had clear reasons to pursue Smart. Over the last two seasons, he’s battled injuries and saw his scoring dip, from a career-high 14.5 points per games in 2023-24, to just 9.0 ppg in 2024-25 combined between the Grizzlies and Wizards (shooting 39.3%), including 34.8% from three). Still, LA’s front office prioritized defense, seeking a tenacious perimeter stopper to complement stars like Austin Reaves and LeBron James, while giving Doncic another reliable defensive backcourt partner.
It wasn’t just the front office doing the recruiting. Sources told The Athletic that Doncic personally vouched for Smart, helping convince him to join the Lakers after his buyout. That inside influence hints at an intentional strategy to balance offensive firepower with lockdown defense.
Can Smart prove Arenas wrong?
The question now is whether Smart can silence critics like Arenas. The Lakers structured Smart’s deal to be short-term and team-friendly, it costs a minimal amount of money, but could pay dividends if he regains form. If he rebounds defensively, Smart might become a vital cog in LA’s rotation, improving their ability to guard elite wings and initiate fast breaks for Doncic-led offense.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely. Smart must stay healthy, channel his intensity, and adapt to the Lakers’ system. He’s got the reputation, now it’s about execution. Arenas’ comments highlight the risk the Lakers took signing an injury-prone defender at minimal cost. With Doncic’s active tole in the recruitment, internal alignment seems promising.
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