Coming off a needed home victory against a conference opponent in the Sacramento Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies hit the road for a two-game east coast trip. Their first stop lands in a city where one of their reserve guards made a name for himself.
Marcus Smart is listed as Questionable with a right ankle sprain he suffered in the Grizzlies' last game against the Kings but expect him to make his anticipated return to the city and the team raised him during his NBA career. Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies last summer in a trade that netted the Boston Celtics Kristaps Porzingis and the Washington Wizards former Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones.
I asked Marcus Smart yesterday about this. If there was any extra incentive to play against Boston if the ankle bothered him.
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) December 6, 2024
He said no, same approach.
“I think that’s where guys get in trouble. You start trying to overdo it instead of just letting the game come to you.” https://t.co/EQwwJrOEgI
The Boston Celtics were close to executing a trade to send former guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade that would've gotten them Porzingis but the trade fell through. Ultimately Brogdon was eventually traded for both he and Smart's replacement, Jrue Holiday, and both moves helped the Celtics capture their first NBA Championship since 2008.
Marcus Smart was out due to injury in both of the Grizzlies' games against the Celtics last season, including their game at the TD Garden on February 4th. The Grizzlies lost both matchups to the Celtics last season and have struggled mightily in the series losing 15 of the last 16 games since the 2015-16 season.
They hope Marcus Smart can help stop the streak that includes Jayson Tatum being a perfect 13-0 in games he has played against the Grizzlies in his career. Marcus Smart spent his first nine seasons with the Boston Celtics where he helped the team make five conference finals appearances, an NBA Finals appearance in 2022, and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.
He spent the majority of his first four seasons as a reserve before becoming a regular starter in 2018 and a full-time starter in 2020. His role with the Grizzlies has changed but his impact remains the same as he has averaged 12.7 points, 5.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and has been a plus-48 in his new role as a reserve, a role he hasn't had since the 2017-18 season.
While Marcus Smart finally gets a chance to settle in with the Memphis Grizzlies after injuries have hindered himself and the team since he arrived, he gets his moment to play on the court that he spent most of his career making memories on. He fell short of helping deliver the Celtics franchise another championship while he was in uniform but now he can help the Grizzlies reverse their history against the Celtics.
His first game back at the TD Garden will be in another uniform with a team that hasn't won a game there since 2013. Including the recent domination of the Celtics against the Grizzlies, Smart has an opportunity to create new memories with a new franchise with championship aspirations.