Rockets Officially Announce Two-Year, $13 Million Deal with Marcus Smart: Former DPOY Joins Houston

The Houston Rockets made it official on July 11, Beijing time, confirming the signing of free-agent guard Marcus Smart. Per earlier reports, the deal is for two years and $13 million.

During the 2021-22 season, Smart played for the Boston Celtics alongside then-assistant coach and current Rockets head coach Ime Udoka. That season, Smart was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). He has been selected to the All-Defensive First Team three times (2018-19, 2019-20, and 2021-22).

Standing 6'4" (1.91 meters) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), Smart was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Celtics. Over 12 NBA seasons, he has appeared in 697 regular-season games, starting 441 of them. He averages 29.4 minutes per game, contributing 10.5 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.55 steals, while making 1.6 three-pointers per game. Among active players, only 12 have achieved at least 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals, and 1,000 made three-pointers in their careers—Smart is one of them.

Last season, Smart played for the Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in 62 regular-season games (54 starts). He averaged 28.5 minutes, posting 9.3 points, 3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, while hitting 1.6 threes per contest. Only five players in the league have averaged fewer than 30 minutes per game while still putting up at least 9 points, 3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.5 three-pointers—Smart and Reed Sheppard are among them. Among players who appeared in 60+ games and faced at least 9 defensive shot attempts per game, Smart held opponents to 43.3% shooting, ranking 11th in the league.

In the playoffs, Smart started all 10 games for the Lakers, averaging 12.9 points, 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game, while making 1.7 three-pointers per contest. His postseason steals per game ranked second in the entire league, trailing only Tari Eason. Only two players in the league averaged at least 5 assists and 2 steals per game in the playoffs—Smart and Amen Thompson.