Marcus Smart‘s first regular-season game as a Los Angeles Laker came with plenty of energy and instant controversy.
Known for his hard-nosed defense, Smart found himself in hot water Tuesday night after a play that many called unnecessary and dangerous, this time involving Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry.
The incident unfolded in the second quarter of the season opener at Crypto.com Arena, where Smart moved to set a screen for teammate Luka Doncic.
Curry, guarding Smart on the play, tried to fight through the movement. That’s when the Lakers guard appeared to grab Curry‘s arm, pulling him off balance and sending him to the hardwood.
The referees initially assessed Smart an offensive foul, but after reviewing the sequence, the call was upgraded to a flagrant 1. Curry took the resulting two free throws and converted both, as boos echoed from the Warriors bench and the clip began circulating online within minutes.
Online reaction turns harsh
The replay quickly went viral, with fans across platforms condemning the move as reckless and potentially dangerous.
“It easily could have injured Curry‘s arm or shoulder,” one fan wrote, echoing a sentiment shared by thousands of commenters who accused Smart of crossing the line between physical play and foul intent.
Curry appeared unharmed, getting up immediately and continuing to play at his usual pace. But the visual of one of basketball’s most respected players being slammed to the floor by a veteran defender drew outrage from across the NBA community.
Old Finals rivals, familiar tension
The two guards have tangled before. Their rivalry dates back to the 2022 NBA Finals, when Curry’s Warriors defeated Smart’s Boston Celtics in six games. That series featured several heated moments, with Smart‘s relentless defense pushing Curry to his limits.
Even before that, Smart was involved in another contentious play against Curry that prompted Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to publicly criticize him. Kerr, at the time, questioned Smart‘s decision-making on a dive that risked Curry‘s health, suggesting his competitive fire occasionally overrides caution.
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