After immediately joining Boston for the 2021/22 season, the veteran point guard Marcus Smart and Rockets head coach Made by Udok welcomed the opportunity to reunite with Houston this offseason, wrote William Guillory of The Athletic. As Guillory details, Udoka appreciates the physicality and tenacity with which Smart plays, and Houston was looking for additional backcourt depth heading into this season as the starting point guard Fred VanVleet coming off an ACL tear.
“I thought he was a perfect fit, who solves a lot of things that we’re missing.” Udoka Guillory said. “I thought we lacked a little bit of depth at point guard, and he brings that defensive identity. We still have high-level quarterbacks, but he brings that edge, toughness and tone that Dylan (Brooks) brought to us before he left the building.’
After being traded from Boston in 2023, Smart bounced around the NBA for several years, spending time with the Grizzlies, Wizards and Lakers before signing with the Rockets in the summer. While his two-year, $12.4 million deal wasn’t a big payday for a player who had a solid season in Los Angeles in 2025-26, Smart was excited to be back playing for the man who coached him in a Defensive Player of the Year season.
“(Udok’s) mentality matched mine” Smart said. “He let me be myself without being harassed.”
This fall, Smart is showing why Udoka and the Rockets wanted him. Through the first six games, he is averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 38.7 percent from three. Houston has a net rating of +11.7 in floor time.
“Hated playing against him” Durant had this to say about Smart earlier this week, trans Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle (subscription required). “But I can see why everyone loves him as a teammate.”
We have more from the Southwest:
- While he still put up MVP-caliber stats in his first seven games this fall, Victor WembanyamaHis field goal percentage and free throw percentage are down from the marks he posted last season. That changed radically on Wednesday when Spurs star had an incredible 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks while making 16-of-28 field goals and 19-of-23 foul shots in a 112-111 win over Dallas. Wembanyama said after the game that he was feeling better after battling the illness and was hoping for more performances like Wednesday’s. “I’m just figuring things out” he said, trans ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. “Sometimes you’re one step ahead. Besides, I’ve been feeling bad lately. I’ve been sick. I felt like my legs were back. So, it should be more often.”
- Devin Vassell is off to a slow start this season, averaging 10.6 points per game on 37.2% shooting, but remains a regular contributor Spurs” the new starting lineup and was named “the most mature man on the roster” by the head coach Mitch Johnsonhow Wright describes in an in-depth ESPN story about Vassell’s role in San Antonio.
- Following Wednesday’s epic battle between the Wembanyama’s Spurs and Cooper Flagg‘s Mavericks, Jared Weiss and Christian Clark of The Athletic (free link) teamed up to recap Flagg’s development versus Wembanyama and look at how Dallas can develop into the Western Conference contender that San Antonio has become.
- Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required) new profiles Mavericks shooting coach Rob Fodorwhich works with Nazi marshal, Zachary Ryzakerand Morez Johnson Jramong others, this fall. “He fixed all my bribes” said Marshall, who talked about wanting to make 45 percent of his three-point attempts this season. “That’s why I’m so confident in saying 45%. This guy is incredible. I work with him every day because I’ve learned how much of a GOAT he is. I just appreciate him too.”