The Boston Celtics just lost a fan favorite.
Marcus Smart was a pillar of the community, and even though he never hesitated to call a portion of the fans out for their antics and behavior, he was mostly beloved and respected among the fanbase.
That’s why Jamal Murray hopes they show him plenty of love once he sets foot in the TD Garden again, this time playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Denver Nuggets star took to Twitter to react to the Smart trade, praising him for playing harder than most players in the league.
Hope they show love to Marcus Smart in Boston. Not many play as hard as he do
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) June 23, 2023
Smart had spent his entire career with the Celtics organization, and cutting ties with him wasn’t an easy decision for Brad Stevens.
His tenacity, physicality, grit, grind, and leadership helped put the Celtics over the top more often than not, and his impact went beyond measure or the stat sheet.
The Celtics needed to try something different around Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum before giving up on them, so Smart had to be the odd man out.
He’s going to be a perfect fit for the young Grizzlies organization.
They couldn’t have thought of a better leader for that kind of squad, as he’ll keep every single one of those players accountable and honest from now on.
Smart won’t hesitate to get in Ja Morant’s face if he starts going off the rails again, and his contributions on defense and as another playmaker could be just what they need to finally get over the hump.
NEXT: Analyst Makes His Thoughts Clear About The Celtics Trading Marcus Smart
