What Marcus Smart told JJ Redick about getting lost in the sauce before signing with the Lakers

OKLAHOMA CITY — After reaching a buyout with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers‘ Marcus Smart craved a winning environment ahead of the 2025-26 season, and made his case to the head coach, JJ Redick. After a 121-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Smart didn’t hold back on how the Thunder dominated. Still, he’s eager to return, as the 31-year-old guard believes this year’s Lakers team will reach its full potential.

This is the opportunity Smart asked Redick for during free agency — a chance to be part of a winning culture with championship aspirations. Smart reflected on his conversation with the Lakers’ head coach, which led to Marcus signing a two-year contract.

“I had a lot left in the tank, I just wanted him to know I had it,” Smart tells ClutchPoints. “Unfortunately, I’ve just been on teams that have kind of gotten lost in the gravy — teams that have gone down, teams that aren’t on TV, smaller markets. So for me, it’s putting the impact back on a winning team.”

Smart signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Lakers. Starting eight of his first 10 games, Smart averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Smart finished with nine points, one rebound and a steal in Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder.

How JJ Redick saw himself in the Lakers’ Marcus Smart

Before facing the Thunder, coach JJ Redick revealed that Marcus Smart’s pitch to join the Lakers sounded like a younger version of himself, as a player, making his pitch to coach Doc Rivers. Heading into the 2013-14 season, Redick wanted to join the Clippers, who finished the previous season with the fourth-best record (56-26) in the Western Conference.

Redick discussed Smart pitch to join Lakers during his pregame media availability on Tuesday.

“It was a similar conversation I had with Doc Rivers when I was getting ready to join the Clippers. I told Doc I needed to be a part of a winning team. I needed to be a part of a relevant team — that’s really important to me. For Marcus, starting his career in Boston, being in the NBA Finals and being on a bunch of playoff teams, which was also a part of the playoffs.

“We talked about it early on, it’s been talked about ever since; that environment creates an opportunity for him to use his voice, which is another thing we’ve talked about in free agency. Another thing we’ve talked about since then is how he can help on the leadership side,” Redick concluded.

Lakers’ JJ Redick talks about how Marcus Smart’s performance in free agency was similar to the conversation he had with Doc Rivers before joining the Clippers as a player

“I told the doctor that I needed to be part of a winning team. I needed to be part of a relevant team” pic.twitter.com/UfhsTbGpK1

— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) November 13, 2025

The Lakers will face the Pelicans on Wednesday.