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Steph Curry Frustrated by Marcus Smart's Aggressive Defense in Warriors-Lakers Clash
22 Oct
Summary
- Steph Curry faced intense physicality from Marcus Smart in season opener
- Smart hooked Curry's arm and shoved him to the floor, drawing a foul
- Fans accused Smart of trying to injure Curry on the controversial play
On October 22nd, 2025, the Golden State Warriors and LA Lakers faced off in the highly anticipated season opener. Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who is now in his 17th NBA season, proved to be a defensive challenge for the Lakers.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, who signed a two-year, $10,524,700 contract in the offseason, took an aggressive approach to containing Curry. During the second quarter, Smart hooked Curry's right arm and shoved the four-time champion to the floor. Curry was visibly frustrated by Smart's uber-physicality, and the referee quickly called a foul on the Lakers player.
The video of the controversial play went viral on social media, with fans slamming Smart and accusing him of trying to injure Curry. "Marcus Smart almost dislocated Steph Curry's shoulder," one fan commented.
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The Warriors ultimately fell to the Lakers in the season opener, but the incident between Curry and Smart has sparked a heated debate about the line between physical defense and excessive force in the NBA.
