Marcus Smart took a moment to look back on his experiences in Boston prior to facing his old team for the first time Saturday evening at TD Garden. The cherished former Celtic connected with NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin to talk about his heartfelt return. He shared his feelings about witnessing the C’s capture Banner […]
Marcus Smart took a moment to look back on his experiences in Boston prior to facing his old team for the first time Saturday evening at TD Garden.
The cherished former Celtic connected with NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin to talk about his heartfelt return. He shared his feelings about witnessing the C’s capture Banner 18 in his absence and what he conveyed to former teammate Jaylen Brown before the 2024 NBA Finals.
“I messaged Jaylen — after they triumphed over Indiana to advance to the Finals, I told him, ‘Go get it now,” Smart shared with Chin. “‘You’ve made it this far, now finish the job this time.’ And he responded saying he appreciated me, loved me, and wished I could be there, but he was going to take care of business.”
“It was certainly tough to watch. However, at the same time, it was enjoyable to witness, and thrilling to see my brothers achieve their goals.”
Smart received an enthusiastic reception upon his return to Boston last season but was unable to hit the court due to an injury. Saturday will present a surreal scene as he goes head-to-head against former Celtics teammates, including Brown and Jayson Tatum.
The 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year takes pride in the progress the Jays have made both on and off the court.
“Just observing their growth,” he mentioned. “They entered the league with a lot of expectations early on. Their journey hasn’t been straightforward, but they continue to demonstrate their growth and show they’re right here.”
“You can see it on the court; everything is slowing down for them, and they’re starting to elevate their defensive game as well. So I take some credit for that.”
While there’s a mutual respect between Smart and the C’s, it’s clear the tenacious guard would relish a win against his previous team. Saturday’s matchup is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.
Watch the complete exclusive interview with Marcus Smart below or on YouTube:
