Marcus Smart once again found himself under the NBA’s disciplinary spotlight. The veteran Los Angeles Lakers guard received a $35,000 fine for making an obscene gesture toward a referee during halftime of the game against the Utah Jazz, even though he later played a key role in his team’s victory.
The incident occurred as Smart left the court following a verbal exchange with an official. At that point, the Lakers trailed 78–73 at halftime. The gesture resulted in a technical foul, Smart’s third of the season, which awarded Utah a free throw to open the second half.
A penalty that revives past disciplinary issues
According to Essentiallysports, the NBA confirmed the punishment through an official statement. “Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture toward a game official, the league announced today through James Jones, Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations,” the statement said.
On the court, Smart delivered a response. He scored 17 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to help secure a 143–135 victory. Luka Dončić led the night with a dominant 45-point performance, but Smart also added four rebounds and knocked down five three-pointers.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture toward a game official during halftime of the Thursday’s win over the Jazz. pic.twitter.com/BcTNHCq8Cj
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) December 20, 2025
The guard carries a history of fines. In the 2017 playoffs, the league fined him $25,000 for an obscene gesture toward a fan. In 2020, he received another $35,000 fine for confrontations with referees, and in 2023, the NBA penalized him again with the same amount for inappropriate language toward an official.
Beyond these incidents, Smart’s importance to the Lakers remains unquestioned. Amid ongoing injury concerns across the roster, he has emerged as the primary ball-handler and a vocal leader within the rotation. His defensive impact supports that role. Smart has earned three NBA All-Defensive Team selections and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022.
This season, he has appeared in 17 games, averaging 10.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting 43.1 percent from the field. His contributions have helped the Lakers maintain fourth place in the Western Conference with a 19–7 record.
Although the gesture carried a significant financial cost, Marcus Smart once again showed why he remains an essential piece of the Lakers’ competitive structure.
