The Los Angeles Lakers’ new recruit, Marcus Smart, is motivated to deliver for the franchise in the next season of the NBA. Smart said Luka Doncic played an instrumental role in his joining with the Lakers.

“When you get a guy like Luka calling… checking on you, trying to see where you’re at, to see if you want to come join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here,” Smart said. “For him to say that he can really use my help, that meant a lot.”

Smart has signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers, according to ESPN’s sources. The Lakers released guards Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin to have access to the biannual exception to sign Smart.

Smart is the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and he is also a three-time All-Defense first-team member. The 31-year-old said he would look to be himself on the court for the Lakers.

“Just to be me,” Smart said when asked what his role will be on the team. “Come in and do what I do and that’s [being] a tenacious defender, just bringing the intensity that I bring, my leadership, my basketball IQ, as well. But just being the pest that I’ve always been.”

The defender said the Lakers have the team to go all the way in the NBA and win the championship.

“I think we stack right up there with the best of them,” Smart said. “And I think we can [compete]. Our ceiling is high. I think there’s no ceiling. I think if we all lock in and come and do what we’re supposed to do, we can have a real good shot at it.”

Smart admitted injuries in the last two years didn’t allow him to give his best on the court, and he is motivated to turn a corner.

“I’m very motivated,” Smart said. “The last two years for me was, in my eyes, a disappointment. Injuries kind of stopped me and held me back. But, like I told my wife and my family, everything happens for a reason. And it’s funny that 12 years ago, I could have been here and now it’s full circle and I’m here.”