The Marcus Smart era in Memphis was short-lived and mostly disappointing for a team looking to add the veteran player to propel them from good to great. While injuries to other players, including Ja Morant, defined Smart's time in Memphis, his own injury luck factored into his disappointing time with the team.
After the Grizzlies traded Smart to the Washington Wizards at the February NBA trade deadline, he almost played as many games (15) in less than half the season with them as he did with Memphis (19) in 51 games. He also missed the Grizzlies' final 45 games of the 2023-24 season, during which he played only 20 games, totaling 39 in one and a half seasons in Memphis.
The NBA offseason saw Smart make his way back to the Western Conference after agreeing to a buyout with the Wizards and signing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Well, the NBA couldn't resist the opportunity for Smart to make his return to Memphis almost immediately to begin the next NBA season.
Smart will return to Memphis on Halloween
Marcus Smart's last game in a Grizzlies uniform was on February 5th against the Toronto Raptors on the road. That game was his first back since December 21, 2024, against the Atlanta Hawks on the road as well. To find the last time Smart appeared in a game in Memphis, you have to go back to December 5, 2024.
Smart did appear back in Memphis at the Grizzlies' play-in game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 18, sitting courtside to support his old teammates. However, seeing him in uniform in the city of Memphis will happen nearly 11 months after his last appearance, but in another uniform.
Another key takeaway from the Lakers and Grizzlies' early-season matchup is that the game will be nationally broadcast on Amazon Prime, signaling it to be a marquee game. The Lakers and Grizzlies are firmly considered to be Western Conference teams who are expected to battle for the playoffs, so the stakes will be high, even for an early-season matchup.
Adding in that Marcus Smart will be in a Lakers uniform will make their first matchup nearly a must-watch for everyone in the city of Memphis. Smart's injury luck is understandable, but his appearing to be out of shape to begin both of his seasons in Memphis will always be frowned upon within the fanbase.
The NBA knows how to stir drama into its schedule, and they didn't miss the mark with this outcome. The Grizzlies already have a rivalry with the Lakers, so Marcus Smart being added to the mix is just the icing on the cake for the next iteration of the rivalry.