Marcus Smart may have a new team, but he is still the same old Marcus Smart.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard Smart sparked backlash online over a dirty play on Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry in Tuesday’s season opener between the two teams. During the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., Smart came up to set a ball screen for Lakers teammate Luka Doncic.
Curry, who was matched up with Smart defensively at the time, moved along with him. In response, Smart hooked Curry’s arm and threw him to the ground. Check out the video.
WTF Is Marcus smart doing to Steph? pic.twitter.com/7Wz6tNykwF
— Steph Curry Muse (@StephMuse_) October 22, 2025
Smart was quickly ripped over social media for the move, which easily could have injured Curry’s arm or shoulder.
This is what Marcus Smart was trying to do to Steph pic.twitter.com/mvwARfgxHd
— Patrick (@NoSwayze) October 22, 2025
Marcus Smart trying to dislocate Curry’s shoulder… Weirdo pic.twitter.com/GFKKjcwn8e
— 30roblemz (@30problemz) October 22, 2025
This is dirty as hell from Marcus Smart…
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) October 22, 2025
What on earth was he trying to do besides rip Steph Curry’s shoulder out? Yikes. Bad bad bad. pic.twitter.com/JkusNGNRek
Marcus Smart casually trying to snap Steph’s arm off pic.twitter.com/uQ4i99Hl3F
— Underdog (@Underdog) October 22, 2025
The former Defensive Player of the Year Smart was initially called for an offensive foul on the play. That was upgraded to a flagrant 1 foul upon review with Curry getting two free throws as a result (both of which he made).
Smart and Curry do have some history, having gone up against each other in the 2022 NBA Finals (when Curry’s Warriors beat Smart and the Boston Celtics in six games). Prior to that, Smart also committed another dangerous play on Curry that drew the ire of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
