Copyright sportskeeda
The LA Lakers had a busy offseason this term, bringing in multiple reinforcements, including Marcus Smart. The $10.5 million veteran has emerged as a culture setter in the locker room and, on Friday, reflected on an intense fight with his brother that once saw them pull out knives.During an interview in the locker room after the Lakers' 117-112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Smart was asked about "playing hard" and the team's effort levels. The former DPOY gave an honest assessment, grading the group a "B+" while continuing to set the tone for the locker room culture."When you're playing hard, you can feel it. You can feel the way you're playing, you can feel the energy," Smart expressed. "I will give us a B+ right now. We've got a long way to go, we're still working, but we're headed in the right direction."Continuing to express his view on putting maximum effort and giving it your all, Smart recalled an intense fight he had with his brother"I remember he did something I didn’t like," Smart recalled. "So I was like, ‘You know what, I’m done.’ And he was like, ‘You’re not quitting. Get your ass back here,’ and pushed me on the ground, and we were going at it. So I went into the house and I got a knife and I told him, ‘We can do it. Let’s do this.’ And we put the knife down and we threw hands and we went back to playing basketball."The story, though intense, highlights the grit and resilience that Marcus Smart possesses. Having signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract, Smart is expected to infuse those same qualities into the Lakers as he continues to earn more minutes on the court.Marcus Smart makes his return to the court against the Memphis Grizzlies as the Lakers earn back-to-back winsMarcus Smart made his return to the court on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies as he returned to the FedEx Forum. After missing two games with a right quad contusion, Smart started against his former team as the Lakers secured a 117-112 victory.The guard was on the court for 35 minutes, the most he has played this term and recorded a season high 12 points while shooting 62.5% from the field. While showcasing a positive trajectory, Luka Doncic was the star of the show.The Slovenian returned to the court after sitting out the last three games and dropped a 44-point double-double, helping the Lakers win back-to-back games.
