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CLWhen the Celtics made this play 🥶
(via wisdomswings)
Marcus Smart spent nine seasons with the Boston Celtics after being drafted in 2014, quickly establishing himself as a gritty, defense-first guard. From the start, his impact wasn’t about scoring but about toughness, hustle plays, and setting the tone defensively. He became a fan favorite for his willingness to dive for loose balls and guard multiple positions.
Throughout his tenure, Smart developed into one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders. He made multiple All-Defensive teams and reached the peak of his defensive reputation in 2022, when he won Defensive Player of the Year—becoming the first guard to win the award since 1996. His instincts, physicality, and leadership anchored Boston’s identity on that end of the floor.
Offensively, Smart evolved from a limited scorer into a more reliable playmaker. By the early 2020s, he transitioned into the team’s starting point guard, helping orchestrate the offense while still contributing across the stat sheet. Over his Celtics career, he averaged around 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, reflecting his all-around contributions.
Smart played a key role in Boston’s deep playoff runs, most notably during the 2021–22 season when the Celtics reached the NBA Finals. He delivered several standout postseason performances and was widely seen as the emotional leader of the team, especially alongside stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
By the time his tenure ended in 2023, Smart had become the longest-tenured Celtic and one of the defining players of that era. His legacy in Boston is tied less to individual scoring and more to leadership, defense, and culture—embodying the franchise’s traditional emphasis on toughness and team-first basketball.
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