Beale Street Bears
Fansided

Celtics star singles out Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart at presser

By Mark Nilon

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 29: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 29: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

This summer, the Memphis Grizzlies took part in a multi-team blockbuster that landed them veteran guard Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics.

While his departure from Beantown was always believed to be a rather tough pill to swallow for both fans and team personnel alike, on July 26, his former teammate, Jaylen Brown, delved into just how deeply his presence will be missed during the upcoming campaign.

“My brother, my teammate, one of my best friends is not on the team anymore. I learned so much from Marcus,” Brown said during a press conference after agreeing to his supermax extension. “We butted heads at times, we fought, we did it all…This journey won’t feel the same without him to be honest. But it’s a part of life, it’s a part of what you do going forward, and everything that he’s instilled into this organization, everything he’s instilled into this community, it’s still going to be with us, we’ll still carry it with us. We’re going to wish him well on his new journey.”

Brown would continue on to state that Boston will “feel the loss of his impact when he’s no longer here,” though closed off by noting that they’ll “be able to keep moving forward.”

Marcus Smart closed out his Celtics career with three All-Defensive first-team selections as well as a Defensive Player of the Year award back in 2021-22 while sporting solid per-game averages of 11.8 points, 6.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals over his last two seasons.

Now, while Jaylen Brown suggests the guard’s former employers will miss his efforts within the rotation moving forward, on the flip side, the Grizzlies are bound to reap the benefits of his arrival, as Marcus Smart is expected to serve as the club’s lead floor general during the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season with superstar Ja Morant slated to be sidelined due to suspension.

On top of this, he will now be formulating one of the game’s best one-two punches on the less glamorous side of the ball alongside reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. while also providing the brand of leadership qualities and veteran experience that some such as ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne believe could have them vying for an NBA Championship as soon as this year.

Home/Grizzlies News