The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Apr. 1 that Marcus Smart will remain out for Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a right ankle contusion.
Smart has missed the past five games with this injury. Head coach JJ Redick said it is not considered serious and described Smart as day-to-day, but emphasized that the team will be cautious and only bring him back when he is fully healthy with the playoffs approaching. Redick said, “We will continue to be cautious and will not bring Smart back until he is 100% healthy considering the start of the playoffs is just around the corner.”
Smart’s absence means the Lakers lose their top perimeter defender for a key matchup against one of the league’s strongest teams. Jake LaRavia has filled in as a starter, providing defense at the point of attack, while Bronny James has seen more minutes off the bench.
In addition to discussing injuries, Redick commented on NBA MVP candidates as the regular season nears its end. He mentioned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama as favorites but said Luka Doncic deserves consideration if both he and his team finish strong. “I would just say that if we continue to finish the season the way we’re playing right now, and he continues to play that way — to me, he is the MVP,” Redick said.
Redick also reflected on perceptions about his team’s performance throughout different parts of this season: “But sometimes there’s recency bias and sometimes there’s the bias of a certain stretch of the season… I think we all feel really comfortable with where our top nine is when we’re healthy and he’s [Doncic] the engine that’s driving all of our winning.”
The Lakers are looking ahead as they manage injuries in preparation for both critical regular-season matchups and an upcoming playoff run.
