Marcus Smart, the Los Angeles Lakers guard, has faced significant backlash after an altercation with Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry. This incident occurred during the season opener on October 22, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Details of the Incident
In the second quarter of the game, Smart attempted to set a screen for teammate Luka Doncic. Curry, who was defending Smart, followed him closely. In a surprising move, Smart hooked Curry’s arm and forcefully threw him to the ground.
Online Reaction
The play drew swift condemnation on social media. Critics called Smart’s actions reckless, highlighting the potential for serious injury to Curry’s shoulder or arm. Notable reactions included comments like:
- “What on earth was he trying to do besides rip Steph Curry’s shoulder out?”
- “This is dirty as hell from Marcus Smart.”
- “Marcus Smart casually trying to snap Steph’s arm off.”
Official Response
Initially, Smart was assessed an offensive foul for the incident. However, after review, the call was upgraded to a flagrant 1 foul. As a result, Curry was awarded two free throws, which he successfully converted.
Background Context
This confrontation is not the first between Smart and Curry. They have a history, having faced off in the 2022 NBA Finals, where Curry’s Warriors triumphed over Smart’s Boston Celtics. Furthermore, there was a previous incident involving Smart that caught the attention of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how this incident will affect the relationship between these two athletes and their respective teams.
