They say “old habits die hard.” However, it’s also been said “home is where you hang your hat” … so which is it? That’s for Eagles newcomer DeVonta Smith to decide.
The former Heisman winner arrives in the City of Brotherly Love as arguably the most decorated receiver in FBS history, amassing 3,965 career receiving yards—an SEC record—over his four years at Alabama. Philly loves a good underdog (ever seen Rocky?) and Smith, who checks in at a wispy 166 pounds, certainly fits that description. The 22-year-old is the hero Philadelphia so desperately longs for, but there is one, small problem—he roots for the Celtics.
Smith’s sports allegiances admittedly don’t make much sense. The 6’0” receiver hails from rural Louisiana, yet he claims to be a Celtics fan and was also seen sporting a Yankees cap at Alabama’s recent Spring Game. Whether he was enamored with the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen growing up or he’s just a big Jayson Tatum fan, Smith must have his reasons for bleeding green. But that doesn’t make his rooting interests any less problematic for Philly sports fans, who have to be feeling at least a little betrayed that the Eagles first-round pick is a supporter of the hated Celtics, the 76ers’ sworn enemy and longtime Atlantic Division rival.
Smith had a chance to soften his troubling pro-Celtics stance while appearing as a guest on Takeoff, an Eagles podcast hosted by John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, but he didn’t take the bait.
“Is there any way they can get you to a Sixers game and they can convert you to being a Sixers fan?” asked Clark, testing the waters to see if Smith would allow for any flexibility on this divisive issue.
“You could for sure get me to a game,” said Smith. “Convert me? I don’t know about that.”
Of course, being a fan of a certain team isn’t necessarily a life sentence. Recall Inglewood native Paul Pierce DESPISED the Celtics before he became one. Now he’s a Boston fan through and through. Social osmosis clearly chipped away at Pierce’s Los Angeles fan-hood over time, and who’s to say Smith can’t be similarly won over?
Falcons first-rounder Kyle Pitts got a rousing ovation from the Atlanta faithful when he took in a Hawks game Monday night, though Smith may not get as warm a reception when he inevitably appears on the Jumbotron at Wells Fargo Center, especially if he’s wearing Celtics colors.
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