Hoop DossierMarcus Smart
Houston Rockets · Guard · 6′3″ 220 lb · age 32 · Oklahoma State · 13th season
2 games this season
Availability
Tonight vs ATLQuestionable ESPN ·
Reported Oct 25: Smart (forearm) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Hawks.
Official injury report: Questionable
Lineups not confirmed yet
Teammates out
Recent changes
- Oct 25AvailabilityDay-to-day
- Oct 24AvailabilityOut
Season form
2 games this seasonStarts 0 of 2 games · 6th on HOU in minutes · Rotation role
Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.
What's being said
47 items · 9 sources this season- Bluesky Varun Shankar (@byvarunshankar.bsky.social) · Report ·
Steven Adams OUT with a right soleus (calf muscle) strain. Marcus Smart questionable.
also reported by Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA)
- ESPN ESPN · Report ·
Smart (forearm) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Hawks.
- Podcast Locked On Hawks host · Report · around the league
According to the host, Houston was shorthanded: no VanVleet, Marcus Smart or Steven Adams. These are opponent players.
“Comeback bid falls short for Hawks in home opener against Rockets” at 3:00 · listen ↗
- Podcast Jackson Gatlin, Locked On Rockets · Report ·
The Rockets' game plan was to sell out to make life hard for Wembanyama, guarding him with many different players. Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart took turns on him.
“Rockets Vs Spurs: Amen Thompson GAME-WINNING BLOCK On Victor Wembanyama & Alperen Sengun DOMINATES” at 13:18 · listen ↗
- Podcast The Mismatch host · Report · around the league
Marcus Smart scored 10 off the bench. Bogey (unclear identity) got some minutes, which surprised the host. Ivica Zubac had 16 and 15. Teams not stated in this passage.
“The Return of Loves and Loathes. Plus: A Historic Thursday Night.” at 44:35 · listen ↗
- Podcast The Zach Lowe Show host · Report · around the league
The guest says Houston buried Reed Sheppard on the bench, with Marcus Smart taking many of his minutes. He frames Sheppard as a possible trade piece.
“Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot Takes, and More!” at 58:49 · listen ↗
- ESPN ESPN · Report ·
Smart (forearm) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Hawks, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- Podcast Locked On Hawks host · Report · wording unclear in audio around the league
Houston played without Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart at point guard. Reed Shepard ran the point and had 19 points on 50% shooting, 5-of-11 from three, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The host says the Hawks needed to make him uncomfortable.
“HAWKS POSTCAST: How The Houston Rockets Exposed The Atlanta Hawks Before The Game Even Started” at 10:55 · listen ↗
- Bluesky @btrowland.bsky.social · Report ·
Marcus Smart (forearm) is out for the Rockets tonight. Reed Sheppard (knee) is available to play. VanVleet and Adams were already ruled out.
- Podcast Locked On Rockets host · Analysis ·
The host says additions Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic matter for spacing across the game, but "some of those guys don't factor late in the game."
“ROCKETS POSTCAST: Houston Rockets Make Early Season Statement In Win Over San Antonio Spurs” at 4:34 · listen ↗
- Podcast Hardwood Knocks host · Relayed report · around the league
Houston moves (Rafael Stone): added Marcus Smart and Bogdanovic, and did below-market rookie-scale extensions for Thompson and Eason. The host calls Thompson becoming a max-level player a 'pretty big if'.
“2026-27 NBA Awards Predictions AND Wild Card Picks” at 1:16:11 · listen ↗
- Podcast Brian Kamenetzky, Locked On Lakers · Analysis · around the league
A host argues that the Lakers replaced the departures of LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Rui with better depth, and changed the defense by adding Walker Kessler as an elite rim protector.
“Why Lakers Fans Should Be Excited for This Year's Team (Despite Carr, Thiero Injuries)” at 24:44 · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 2 points ·
- Jackson Gatlin: The host frames this season around the return of Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, plus the additions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. at 2:08
- B Scott says last season's 6th-ranked defense played with no VanVleet and mostly without Adams. He expects Marcus Smart to play significant minutes. at 7:01
“DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: Houston Rockets Set To SURPASS Spurs & Thunder In NBA's Elite Rankings?” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 3 points ·
- A host or guest said that in game two of the preseason, VanVleet did not play at all and the offense looked bad at times. Madison replied that Marcus Smart was available as a veteran point guard. at 8:55
- Bryson picked Marcus Smart to surprise people as the seventh, eighth or ninth man. He noted that Smart won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 with Boston while Udoka was the head coach. at 24:56
- Jackson Gatlin: The host (inferred) predicted that, with VanVleet back and Marcus Smart added, the Rockets' point-of-attack defense will be no worse than top three in the NBA. He also said there will be times when Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Smart are on the floor together. at 28:05
“Rockets Most IMPORTANT Player BESIDES Kevin Durant | Who Will SURPRISE And Who Has Most AT STAKE?” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On NBA host · Analysis · around the league
Houston has Fred VanVleet back and added Marcus Smart; Davis sees both as beneficial.
“BUY OR SELL NBA PREVIEW | Is the East WIDE OPEN | Who Can ACTUALLY Win the West?” at 30:25 · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 3 points ·
- Bryson disputes the 'over-reliance' framing. He says that without VanVleet the team went 52-30 with a top-10 offense, though he grants the half-court offense and turnover-rate numbers were more damning. He argues VanVleet's presence slots players back into natural roles, and that Smart covers vet presence when VanVleet misses games. at 15:07
- Madison wants more offensive creativity: weaponizing shooting through pin-downs and off-ball movement, plus connective passing. He says this was missing last year for lack of a true point guard or initiator, and he expects a return to it, especially with Marcus Smart's addition, whom he calls a possible wild card. at 42:24
- The host calls the Marcus Smart experience a coming love-hate roller coaster. B. Scott adds a Tari Eason roller coaster. at 43:37
“Houston Rockets Path To SUCCESS This Season? | Alperen Sengun & Amen Thompson Must SHINE” · listen ↗
- Podcast Hardwood Knocks · 2 points ·
- Dan's Rockets top nine: starters VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Sengun; bench Smart, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason and Steven Adams. Bogdanovic plays if healthy; Capela likely doesn't play when Sengun and Adams are both healthy. at 1:19:37
- Dan Favale: Dan predicts Reed Sheppard is the one squeezed, given how Ime Udoka values defense. Mort would squeeze Smart instead and calls cutting Sheppard malpractice. at 1:20:34
“1 Big Question For Every NBA Teams In The Western Conference” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 2 points ·
- First-half substitution order: Tari Eason came in first, for Amen Thompson. Marcus Smart replaced Clint Capela and Reed Sheppard came in together for Sengun and VanVleet, leaving Durant with four bench players. Bogdanovich was the fifth and final sub. at 28:29
- Jackson Gatlin: A defense-focused lineup was used: Marcus Smart, Amen Thompson, Tari and Jabari, with Jabari playing small-ball five for a stretch. at 24:53
“Rockets Close Preseason STRONG Vs Thunder | Amen & Sengun CARRY Early, Bogdan Bogdanovic Goes CRAZY” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 4 points ·
- Jackson Gatlin: The host's view: the Rockets now have many more offensive creators than last season. Last season it was mainly Durant and Sengun, with Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson contributing inconsistently. This year VanVleet, Smart and Bogdanovic are added. at 12:53
- Jackson Gatlin: The host's opinion: Bogdanovic should be the swing guy in the rotation, in some combination with Smart and Adams, rather than leaning on them in the regular season. at 21:21
- Jackson Gatlin: The host says Bogdanovic, Smart and Adams are all coming off major injuries and are old, and so should not be leaned on in the regular season. No specific injuries were named. at 21:33
- Jackson Gatlin: The Rockets' final preseason game is against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The host believes, though he hedges that he may have missed something, that the Rockets intend it as a dress rehearsal and the first look at the full team: the 10-deep rotation with Smart, Bogdanovic and the regular starting lineup. at 23:08
“LEGACY: Can Kevin Durant DEFY Doubters And LEAD The Rockets To NBA Finals This Season?” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets host · Prediction ·
The host hopes three-point volume goes up (past the 35.5 per game line), pointing to VanVleet's return as a high-volume shooter and to Marcus Smart.
“Rockets Fans PREDICTIONS | 60+ WINS? Western Conference Finals RUN? Kevin Durant DOMINANCE?” at 9:10 · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 10 points ·
- Game 2 starters with the regular starters out: Reed Sheppard, Marcus Smart, Clint Capela, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. The host said Capela, Smart and Sheppard were moved up from the bench to fill out the lineup. at 13:26
- Marcus Smart's debut: 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, 4-of-9 from three, 2-of-3 free throws, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 1 turnover. at 3:19
- Host's view: Smart was by far the Rockets' best player on the floor in game 2. at 3:03
- Smart ran short pick-and-rolls with Clint Capela. One got Capela fouled and to the line. On another, a re-screen, a bounce pass through two defenders set up a dunk. The host counted at least four or five pocket bounce passes from Smart. at 5:38
- Host's analysis: without Fred, KD and Sengun, the offense was clunky at times. He does not blame all of it on Smart, but says Smart and VanVleet run the offense differently. at 4:39
- Host's description of Smart's expected role: not the full-time starting point guard. He comes in when Fred sits, defends, and keeps the offense from stalling. at 6:28
- Negative on Smart: a few threes came early in the shot clock. The host thinks his aggression was partly out of necessity with the top scorers out, and calls 4-of-9 a respectable mark. at 7:17
- Host's prediction: Smart will not start, but he probably closes a fair number of games for defensive reasons, and he expects him to be the 'tip of the spear' on defense. at 9:08
- Smart was vocal on defense, communicating switches and calling out coverages for teammates. at 9:41
- Smart, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard are all coming off the bench. The host thinks they would likely start for other teams. at 10:17
“Marcus Smart's IMPRESSIVE Rockets Debut Vs Mavs | Reed Sheppard's CONFIDENCE On Display” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Rockets · 7 points ·
- The host said the reason Marcus (Smart) didn't play is unknown: nothing was said on the broadcast and he had seen nothing on social media. at 22:14
- Host's best guess, which he says not to freak out about: Marcus and Clint Capela sat game 1 because there weren't enough minutes, since the team plans to rest Fred and Steve for one of the two games. at 22:26
- Fred and Steven Adams both played game 1, while Marcus (Smart), Capela and Jae'Sean Tate did not. at 3:22
- Host's gut prediction for Sunday's game 2: no Fred and no Steven; Marcus starts in place of Fred, Clint plays in place of Steve-O (Adams), and everything else stays the same. at 3:36
- Host prefers a Reed Sheppard–Marcus Smart backcourt to Reed–Fred, because Smart is bigger (6'3"–6'4") and can handle bigger players. at 6:11
- Host prediction for Sunday, assuming Fred sits and Smart starts: Marcus is the primary PG, Reed backs him up, and Bruce Thornton gets the leftover spot minutes that Bogey basically got in game 1. at 21:54
- Open question whether Ime commits to a consistent 10-man rotation with Bogdan Bogdanovic playing nightly, or whether Bogey's minutes are spot minutes that come at the expense of Steve-O or Smart. at 28:23
“Rockets Vs Mavs LIVE Postgame Mailbag: Kevin Durant USAGE Concerns, Amen Thompson's ROLE & More” · listen ↗
Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.
Game log
● = started2026-27 season
| Date | Opp | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23 | @SAS W | 21 min | 5 pts | 3 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 21 | DAL W | 26 min | 10 pts | 2 reb | 2 ast | 2 3PM |
2025-26 season (last season) · 72 games
| Date | Opp | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11 | OKC L | 36 min | 5 pts | 2 reb | 3 ast | 0 3PM |
| May 9 | OKC L | 32 min | 10 pts | 3 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| May 7 | @OKC L | 34 min | 14 pts | 4 reb | 5 ast | 1 3PM |
| May 5 | @OKC L | 32 min | 12 pts | 4 reb | 7 ast | 2 3PM |
| May 1 | @HOU W | 35 min | 7 pts | 7 reb | 1 ast | 2 3PM |
| Apr 29 | HOU L | 37 min | 11 pts | 5 reb | 2 ast | 3 3PM |
| Apr 26 | @HOU L | 31 min | 9 pts | 2 reb | 5 ast | 0 3PM |
| Apr 24 | @HOU W | 39 min | 21 pts | 4 reb | 10 ast | 2 3PM |
| Apr 21 | HOU W | 35 min | 25 pts | 2 reb | 7 ast | 5 3PM |
| Apr 18 | HOU W | 34 min | 15 pts | 2 reb | 8 ast | 1 3PM |
| Apr 12 | UTA W | 26 min | 5 pts | 2 reb | 10 ast | 1 3PM |
| Apr 10 | PHX W | 18 min | 6 pts | 5 reb | 7 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 21 | @ORL W | 31 min | 2 pts | 1 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 19 | @MIA W | 28 min | 13 pts | 2 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 18 | @HOU W | 34 min | 5 pts | 3 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 16 | @HOU W | 36 min | 11 pts | 0 reb | 1 ast | 3 3PM |
| Mar 14 | DEN W | 35 min | 21 pts | 3 reb | 2 ast | 5 3PM |
| Mar 10 | MIN W | 31 min | 8 pts | 2 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 8 | NYK W | 29 min | 5 pts | 3 reb | 4 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 6 | IND W | 29 min | 11 pts | 3 reb | 3 ast | 3 3PM |
| Mar 5 | @DEN L | 32 min | 9 pts | 1 reb | 2 ast | 3 3PM |
| Mar 3 | NOP W | 30 min | 10 pts | 3 reb | 7 ast | 2 3PM |
| Mar 1 | SAC W | 25 min | 9 pts | 3 reb | 3 ast | 3 3PM |
| Feb 28 | @GSW W | 29 min | 8 pts | 5 reb | 1 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 26 | @PHX L | 31 min | 13 pts | 1 reb | 3 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 24 | ORL L | 23 min | 3 pts | 1 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Feb 22 | BOS L | 22 min | 0 pts | 1 reb | 4 ast | 0 3PM |
| Feb 20 | LAC W | 29 min | 7 pts | 2 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Feb 12 | DAL W | 26 min | 9 pts | 2 reb | 6 ast | 1 3PM |
| Feb 9 | OKC L | 29 min | 19 pts | 3 reb | 3 ast | 4 3PM |
| Feb 7 | GSW W | 33 min | 15 pts | 3 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Feb 5 | PHI W | 31 min | 7 pts | 4 reb | 5 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 3 | @BKN W | 18 min | 6 pts | 3 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Feb 1 | @NYK L | 30 min | 7 pts | 0 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 30 | @WAS W | 27 min | 3 pts | 1 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 28 | @CLE L | 24 min | 2 pts | 3 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 26 | @CHI W | 32 min | 12 pts | 2 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 24 | @DAL W | 32 min | 13 pts | 7 reb | 3 ast | 2 3PM |
| Jan 22 | @LAC L | 30 min | 10 pts | 0 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 20 | @DEN W | 31 min | 15 pts | 2 reb | 1 ast | 3 3PM |
| Jan 18 | TOR W | 25 min | 8 pts | 5 reb | 3 ast | 2 3PM |
| Jan 17 | @POR L | 25 min | 25 pts | 2 reb | 0 ast | 4 3PM |
| Jan 15 | CHA L | 32 min | 10 pts | 4 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 13 | ATL W | 29 min | 16 pts | 5 reb | 4 ast | 2 3PM |
| Jan 12 | @SAC L | 31 min | 1 pt | 2 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 9 | MIL L | 30 min | 9 pts | 4 reb | 1 ast | 3 3PM |
| Jan 7 | @SAS L | 34 min | 2 pts | 7 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 6 | @NOP W | 37 min | 13 pts | 6 reb | 4 ast | 3 3PM |
| Jan 4 | MEM W | 31 min | 6 pts | 1 reb | 4 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 2 | MEM W | 34 min | 13 pts | 8 reb | 7 ast | 3 3PM |
| Dec 30 | DET L | 25 min | 6 pts | 2 reb | 5 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 28 | SAC W | 20 min | 0 pts | 3 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 25 | HOU L | 29 min | 6 pts | 2 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 23 | @PHX L | 30 min | 14 pts | 3 reb | 6 ast | 4 3PM |
| Dec 20 | @LAC L | 31 min | 5 pts | 4 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 18 | @UTA W | 28 min | 17 pts | 4 reb | 1 ast | 5 3PM |
| Dec 14 | @PHX W | 32 min | 8 pts | 4 reb | 6 ast | 1 3PM |
| Dec 10 | SAS L | 28 min | 26 pts | 3 reb | 1 ast | 8 3PM |
| Nov 25 | LAC W | 20 min | 7 pts | 3 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 23 | @UTA W | 17 min | 6 pts | 0 reb | 0 ast | 2 3PM |
| Nov 18 | UTA W | 17 min | 5 pts | 3 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 14 | @NOP W | 34 min | 13 pts | 5 reb | 5 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 12 | @OKC L | 28 min | 9 pts | 1 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 10 | @CHA W | 37 min | 13 pts | 4 reb | 5 ast | 3 3PM |
| Nov 8 | @ATL L | 21 min | 5 pts | 0 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 5 | SAS W | 34 min | 17 pts | 5 reb | 5 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 3 | @POR W | 32 min | 9 pts | 2 reb | 5 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 2 | MIA W | 27 min | 11 pts | 3 reb | 4 ast | 3 3PM |
| Oct 31 | @MEM W | 35 min | 12 pts | 3 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Oct 26 | @SAC W | 31 min | 11 pts | 3 reb | 5 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 24 | MIN W | 21 min | 3 pts | 0 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Oct 21 | GSW L | 23 min | 9 pts | 0 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
How his numbers change by situation, with four seasons of history →
Predictions about him
how calls are trackedCame true 2 · Waiting 1
- Waiting Locked On Rockets (show): Marcus Smart starts in place of VanVleet vs Dallas on Sunday.
2026-10-09 · Podcast · for vs DAL, 2026-10-11 Flag - Came true Underdog NBA: Marcus Smart: reported out source
2026-10-24 · X · for @ ATL, 2026-10-25 · result: did not play Flag - Came true Locked On Rockets (show): Marcus Smart will not be in the Rockets' starting lineup.
2026-10-12 · Podcast · for vs DAL, 2026-10-22 · result: came off the bench, 26 min Flag