Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on Apr. 8 that guard Marcus Smart is making progress in his recovery from an ankle injury and could return to play later this week. Smart has missed several games, adding to the team’s challenges as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are also out for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.
Smart’s absence has left the Lakers without one of their main ball-handlers, playmakers, and perimeter defenders. Redick addressed reporters before Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder about Smart’s status. “He’s progressing well,” Redick said. “We thought that he’d be back by now. It’s not that he had a setback last week, but he was doing on-court work and he wanted to dial it back. So he had a great day today on the court, trending towards playing at some point this week.”
With several key players unavailable, Luke Kennard has taken over as lead ball-handler for Los Angeles. While Kennard has managed in his new role, team observers say his strengths are best utilized as a spacing threat rather than primary playmaker.
Even with Smart expected to return soon, Los Angeles faces difficulties heading into the postseason without Doncic or Reaves available. The Lakers can finish no lower than fifth in the Western Conference standings due to tiebreakers but will likely enter playoff matchups as underdogs.
Redick also spoke about Smart’s leadership within the team since joining last summer: “Smart is respected in the locker room and able to hold stars like Doncic accountable.” His presence is considered valuable both on and off the court for maintaining team cohesion during challenging stretches.
