"He reached out twice" - Smart reveals conversation with Dončić before joining Lakers

The NBA star recently joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the new season as they look to challenge for the Championship.

Smart discussed Luka Dončić's pivotal role in his decision to join the team during his introductory press conference.

The former Boston Celtics guard revealed that the Slovenian star reached out to him twice, expressing his desire to have Smart as a teammate. This delighted Smart, who had previously only faced Dončić as an opponent.

"I got a call from my agent, who said, 'Dončić reached out to us.' I couldn't believe it. The next day, it happened again.

"Luka was persistent. The fact that a player of his calibre believes I can help him is huge for me. I've been on the receiving end of Luka's 'magic' many times. Now, I'm excited to be on his side," Smart said, via Sportal.