The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the summer adding plenty of new faces, including veteran guard Marcus Smart. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Lakers less than a week ago after being personally recruited by Luka Doncic, and L.A. fans are excited to see how Smart's presence will improve the backcourt.
Smart is one of the NBA's best defenders and can occasionally step up offensively, meaning it likely won't be until Lakers fans fall in love with him. Although the 31-year-old guard won't be making an on-court impact until the 2025-26 regular season begins, Los Angeles' latest signing hasn't wasted any time making some off-court history.
Marcus Smart Becomes First Lakers Player to Wear Jersey No. 36
Smart made his Lakers debut when he was introduced to the media on Tuesday. It was also revealed during that day that the former Oklahoma State product will be wearing No. 36 on his jersey, much like he has everywhere else he's played throughout his 11-year NBA career.
Interestingly enough, Smart's jersey number selection makes him the first player to wear No. 36 in Lakers history, according to X user @EtienneCatalan.
Marcus Smart (@smart_MS3) will wear No. 36 for the #Lakers. Number never worn in franchise history. #NBA pic.twitter.com/NkcvOkT6hH
— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) July 23, 2025
The Lakers have had iconic players don a slew of numbers throughout history, so it's interesting to see that it took this long for someone to rock No. 36. At the same time, that number is one of the more seldomly worn digits in the Association, proven by the fact that Smart is only one of two players to have worn No. 36 since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, according to Basketball Reference.
Recruited first hand by Doncic, it's safe to say expectations will be high regarding Smart next season.
He's coming off a 2024-25 performance that saw him average 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and .393/.348/.761 splits in 34 games (7 starts) between the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. Injuries have now limited Smart to 54 appearances across the last two seasons, meaning he must be healthier if he wants to successfully help the Lakers to championship glory.
Time will tell if Doncic was right to lure Smart to the City of Angels. If it was the right call, it might not be long before No. 36 becomes an important part of Lakers history.