It has been well documented now that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic was on the offensive in recruiting Marcus Smart to come out West. Obviously, it worked out as Smart agreed to a buyout with the Washington Wizards and simultaneously signed a 2-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers.
Aside from Smart’s defensive prowess, was there another reason that Doncic was bullish on him joining the Lakers?
An old video has surfaced of a somewhat “full circle” moment for the two NBA stars.
Los Angeles Lakers Teammates Luka Doncic And Marcus Smart Have Full-Circle Moment
Born in Slovenia, Doncic began his professional career playing for Real Madrid in Spain, from 2015-2018. At just 16 years old, in 2015, the Boston Celtics played Real Madrid in a preseason exhibition game.
Marcus Smart was on that Celtics team and happened to guard Doncic throughout the game.
Marcus Smart guarding a 16-year-old Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/CUvsaww9rz
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) July 25, 2025
Doncic played 16 minutes off the bench and registered just one point with four rebounds. Smart, a starter for Boston, registered seven points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.
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At just 16, it was hard to imagine that Doncic would end up being the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. It was hard to imagine that he would become a 5-time All-Star and 5-time All-NBA First Team.
It was also hard to imagine that Smart, just getting his career going in the NBA, would one day be recruited by the wiley 16-year-old to join him on the team the Celtics hated the most – the Los Angeles Lakers.
But here we are.