Bold statement: The newest Lakers see the NBA Cup as a stepping stone, not the peak of their ambitions. And this mindset, while subtle, frames every practice, game, and goal for Los Angeles.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — In the hours before the Lakers’ NBA Cup quarterfinal against the San Antonio Spurs, there were no fireworks of emotion. No extra urgency from a single-elimination format. No urgent claims about prize money or trophies to be added to the franchise’s mantle.
“I’m sure it feels different to some people,” Marcus Smart noted, “but to me, it’s just another game.”
“Cool court,” Deandre Ayton offered, almost flatly.
This is not exactly the message the NBA likely hoped to propagate with its third-year in-season competition. Yet, given the Lakers’ context, Ayton and Smart are not wrong to keep the Cup in perspective.
They’ve already felt the tournament buzz simply by wearing Lakers purple and gold. For two players who have tasted postseason success—Smart with the Boston Celtics and Ayton with the Phoenix Suns—the standard of winning returning to Los Angeles has been inspiring. The Lakers’ roster is studded with veterans who have been through championship runs, and Ayton emphasizes that the drive to win is a daily concern.
“Being here in this atmosphere … winning speaks for itself,” Ayton said. “Just the names around here. It’s motivating. Seeing where we are in the season, why not us?”
Yet the only championship that seems to matter in the near term is the NBA Cup, where Los Angeles sits just three wins away from the prize. It wasn’t why Ayton or Smart joined the Lakers, but it does reflect the team’s current focus and progress. Through the season’s first stretch, Los Angeles has the second-best record in the Western Conference despite injuries that disrupted continuity.
During Smart’s six-game absence, the Lakers’ defense slipped to sixth-worst in the league—a modest dip, but a meaningful one. JJ Redick has described Smart as the Lakers’ defensive tone-setter, whose physicality helps set the tone against teams like the Spurs, Spurs’ upcoming semis opponents, and the broader Cup field. Smart’s return from a back injury comes at a crucial time.
“I think we’ve gotten a great version of him when he’s been healthy and on the court,” Redick remarked. “We just gotta continue to, in some ways, integrate him. And now that we’re trying to integrate LeBron, it’s also about incorporating Smart. He can contribute a lot for our team.”
For Smart, Los Angeles offers something he craved after years in Boston: meaningful competition and a program with a sense of tradition and purpose. He recalls how, after nine years in Boston, the spotlight faded when players moved on to other teams, and the motivation waned. The Lakers’ environment has rekindled that sense of duty and pride.
Ayton echoes the sentiment. He notes the daily grind of staying sharp—nails the routine of practice, lifting, cardio, and late-work shots—even when fatigue sets in. The presence of multiple Hall of Famers who openly want to win creates a competitive atmosphere that demands everyone pull their weight to fit into the puzzle.
“We have LeBron and Luka (Dončić) on the team,” Ayton said, referencing the lofty expectations and the constant reminder of what’s possible. “Every day you come in and take care of the little things, and you’re part of something bigger. I truly believe we have a shot.”
In sum, the Lakers’ mindset is clear: triumph in the NBA Cup would be meaningful, but it’s not an end in itself. The bigger objective sits beyond the current tournament, anchored in a culture of excellence and a roster built to chase championships. The question remains: will this culture push the Lakers over the top, or will the broader ambitions require something more than a Cup run to satisfy a franchise hungry for lasting glory?
