Until earlier this week, veteran point guard Marcus Smart was the most tenured member of the Boston Celtics, playing nine seasons with the club after being drafted No. 6 overall in 2014. A surprise three-team trade between the Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards has changed all of that, and now Smart is slated to suit up with Memphis next year.
Boston went gone through several iterations since the team began a full rebuild in the early 2010s, and Smart was there through it all. He helped Boston sneak into the playoffs in 2015 before becoming a key running mate to fan-favorite Isaiah Thomas. Smart was there to support Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. And more recently, Smart served as the defacto third amigo alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Off the court, Smart was an involved and giving member of the Boston community, working with youth groups and hospitals to create meaningful change. As Celtics president Brad Stevens recently put it, Smart will always be appreciated and thought of so fondly” in the city of Boston.
Here’s everything you need to know about Boston’s new unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. https://t.co/gBJV9Yo0bd
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 23, 2023
That love was mutual, and Smart took to social media to share his thanks to Celtics fans and his excitement for a new chapter in Memphis.
“As I start to think about the last 9 years,” Smart said. “I have a lot of emotions running thru me. I came to Boston as a naive kid from Dallas not knowing what to expect. All I knew was the type of work ethic my momma instilled in me and I was going to work my ass off and make sure I EARNED the respect of each and every one of the fans in Boston.
“Boston, you are a very special place to me. I grew up here and met some of my best friends here. I’ll never forget my time here.”
Smart spoke about his pride for what he accomplished with the Celtics and in the city before turning his attention to the Grizzlies. We thank Smart for his time in Boston and wish him all the luck in the world down in Memphis.
“We want to get the whole city to support and give him the send off he deserves” one event rep told Celtics Wire. https://t.co/HJCVN3sT8n
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 23, 2023
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