Smith Trades the G League Shuttle for Spain
Nick Smith Jr. is done waiting on an NBA roster spot to open up. The guard has agreed to a one-year deal with Real Madrid, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, leaving the league entirely to become the Spanish powerhouse’s lead guard in the EuroLeague.
The move comes about two and a half months after the Los Angeles Lakers declined Smith’s $2.5 million team option for 2026-27, making him an unrestricted free agent. Smith, the 27th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 draft, spent last season bouncing between the Lakers’ rotation and the G League. He appeared in 30 games for Los Angeles in 2025-26, averaging 6.2 points on 39.5% three-point shooting in limited minutes, numbers that reflect a player who flashed real shooting touch but never carved out a consistent NBA role. Across three NBA seasons, his career averages sit at 7.6 points in 17.5 minutes per game.
The Backcourt Math Behind the Lakers’ Decision
The Lakers’ choice to move on from Smith lines up with a broader backcourt reshuffle. Los Angeles guaranteed Bronny James’ $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 around the same offseason window, and the team has since added Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes while losing Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves expected to handle most of the primary ball-handling, the Lakers simply had less room for a third young, unproven guard than they did a year ago.
That context makes Bronny James’ reaction to the news land a little differently. After Smith posted the Real Madrid signing on Instagram, James commented in support, telling his former teammate, “Damn that’s fire bro, be great!!!” The two shared a Lakers locker room for a full season, both fighting for minutes in a crowded backcourt, and only one of them is still on the roster heading into training camp.
Why Real Madrid, and Why Now
For Smith, leaving the NBA for the EuroLeague is a bet on opportunity over prestige. A one-year deal to start and run an offense for one of Europe’s flagship clubs offers something the Lakers’ bench never could: consistent, high-leverage minutes. That matters for a 22-year-old still trying to prove his G League scoring numbers can translate, rather than sitting behind an established backcourt hoping for spot duty. If Smith plays well in Madrid, NBA teams will notice. The EuroLeague has become a legitimate proving ground rather than a career exit, and Real Madrid’s stage is about as visible as it gets outside the NBA.
It also leaves the Lakers with one fewer wildcard in a backcourt that already looks settled on paper. Smith’s departure doesn’t change Los Angeles’ outlook heading into camp, but it does close the book on an inexpensive flier that never quite found its footing, the same story that pushed another NBA player, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, to sign overseas rather than chase a fringe roster spot at home.