“It was crazy to see. I mean, you see somebody in a Boston uniform for so long and then get traded. It’s wild.”
That was Payton Pritchard’s recollection of his initial reaction to the Marcus Smart trade last June – a response that likely mirrored the sentiments of most Celtics fans.
After nine seasons, consistently making the postseason, featuring five Eastern Conference Finals appearances, and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2022, the man widely recognized as the “Heart and Soul” of the Boston Celtics was traded just before midnight on June 21, a little over three weeks following the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat.
Teammates said their goodbyes, coming to terms with the harsh realization that they never got to finish what they started, as the front office signaled the end of an era for that Celtics’ core.
The emotions were raw, and undoubtedly, those feelings will resurface on Sunday evening when number 36 returns to TD Garden, this time as a visitor.
Although Smart will not be playing on Sunday when his Memphis Grizzlies take on the Celtics as he continues to nurse a finger injury, his presence will certainly evoke some of those emotions from last June as Boston welcomes back one of the most beloved players in recent history.
“I’ve always said you don’t replace a guy like him. You just find different ways to be able to do it,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Who he is will forever be etched into the city of Boston because of what he’s done in community service and what he’s done here, just helping represent.”
Players that affect not only an organization, but a community in the way Smart did throughout his tenure in Boston are few and far between.
Although the former sixth overall pick’s name is etched in the history books of one of the league’s most prestigious organizations, his impact goes well beyond his 415 career wins with the franchise.
For many kids, Smart is remembered as the friendly face who spent hours with them in the hospital, offering friendship and a listening ear during some of the most challenging moments in life.
For the Celtics, the 2021-22 Defensive Player of The Year set a precedent for Boston’s defense, one the team still swears by today.
“I think he’s one of the guys that started our defensive foundation before I got here because of his ability to compete at a high level, to defend at a high level, and execute different coverages,” Mazzulla said Saturday.
“When you have a guard that plays as hard as he does, who guards centers, guards point guards, picks up full court, boxes out, takes charges, all those little things that I think go into it,” the bench boss added. “When you see a guard have an impact on the game on so many levels the way he did, I think that’s kind of what started [the defensive identity].”
Smart will have earned every cheer he will hear when the expected tribute video is revealed to the TD Garden crowd on Sunday. It will be a special moment that Smart deserves to share with the franchise and community that still holds him in high regard.
Every minute of the over 21,000 Smart spent on the court wearing Celtic green, he embodied what it meant to be a Boston Celtic – and his off-the-court impact was even more special.
Recognizing the significant impact he made on the city of Boston, it’s only fitting to ensure that Smart’s return on Sunday night is memorable. Something Celtics fans are sure to do.
“I think there will be a little bit extra emotion, just because of how Smart’s been able to impact the community and impact the Garden so many times,” Mazzulla said. “So hopefully, during a timeout, I don’t know if his hand still hurts, but he can dive on the floor for a loose ball and roll one out.”
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