BOSTON — The Celtics didn’t just host the Grizzlies at TD Garden on Saturday night.
They also hosted old friend and current Memphis guard Marcus Smart on the court he once called home.
Smart returned to Boston two offseasons removed from being traded in a three-team swap that helped the Celtics acquire Kristaps Porzingis. It wasn’t the first official return as Smart received his thank you video tribute from the Celtics last February. But Smart — sidelined at the time — didn’t get to suit up and compete in that go-around.
This time, Smart finally got to go head-to-head against his former Celtics teammates.
“It was weird. It was weird,” Jaylen Brown admitted. “But it was great. Marcus is a family member at this point. So to be able to see him, congratulate him on him starting his family, stuff off the court, is amazing. All that stuff is good but it’s definitely good to see him.”
Smart played nine seasons for the Celtics (581 total games) and helped Boston reach the 2022 NBA Finals – his only bid for the Larry O’Brien Trophy so far. He was beloved by the team’s fanbase and celebrated for his unparalleled hard-nosed demeanor. Smart’s effort, care and devotion to giving the Celtics every ounce possible was never challenged, making their split difficult for both sides.
Boston received the ultimate version of a Celtic when the organization drafted Smart sixth overall in 2014 and watched the feisty, blue-collared performer leave it all on the floor. Smart was a lead-by-example ingredient who never feared the bright-light moments and always strived to keep the Celtics true to themselves.
“It felt good,” Payton Pritchard told reporters, per CLNS Media. “It was good to see him out there. We didn’t get to play him against him last year. We had a lot of good memories with Smart here and he’s loved in Boston, and for a good reason. So it was definitely nice to see him out there.”
Smart didn’t rise to the occasion coming off the bench for Memphis, however. After receiving an emotional round of applause from the thousands of Celtics fans during his first-quarter check-in, Smart proceeded to shoot just 1-of-11 from the field and finish with three points in the 127-121 Grizzlies victory.
Bittersweet? Perhaps. But Smart will get his shot at redemption when he and the Grizzlies host the Celtics on March 31 for their final meeting of the season.
