Veteran guard Marcus Smart was introduced to the media for the first time as a member of the Grizzlies on Friday, following a three-team trade last month with the Wizards and Celtics that landed Smart in Memphis and sent Kristaps Porziņģis to Boston.
Smart will take over a key role on an up-and-coming Grizzlies squad that will be looking for guidance to take the next step in their climb up the Western Conference echelon.
Smart’s All-NBA defense and his timely three-point shooting will be a boon to the Memphis backcourt, especially with star Ja Morant out of the lineup due to his lengthy suspension to begin next season. The veteran guard will also be tasked with being a mentor to the young Grizzlies star once he returns from the league’s discipline.
On Friday, Smart talked about his relationship with Morant and its importance for the Grizzlies to achieve their goals next season.
“It’s huge, it’s huge,” Smart said. “Ja is a very special player…a very special player and he’s very important to this team. For us to do anything great, we’re gonna need Ja, and we’re gonna need Ja to be the best he can be. For me, you know, as a competitor I love to push guys to their limit, especially a guy who’s great. I’ve done it over in Boston with those guys and those are my brothers, so I want to have that same relationship with Ja. Like I said, he’s a great player and we’re gonna need him to do what we wanna do.”
"I love to push guys to their limit. Especially a guy who is great. I've done it over in Boston... those are my brothers."
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) July 7, 2023
Marcus Smart talks importance of building a relationship with Ja Morant while he serves out his suspension pic.twitter.com/nWytWk0Gad
Morant was issued a 25-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league, stemming from an incident when he flashed a gun on social media for the second time in three months. Morant served an eight-game suspension during the regular season for live streaming a video and holding a gun while intoxicated at a Denver area nightclub in March.
The second incident took place in May, and commissioner Adam Silver announced the severe punishment for Morant, who will be out of the Memphis lineup for the first quarter of the regular season.
With Morant absent, Smart will play a pivotal role in leading the starting lineup. When Morant returns, there’s no doubt the veteran will continue to play a pivotal role for the Grizzlies, both on and off the court.
