Those who were wondering whether Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum got along, or could co-exist on the basketball court, got their answer Monday night shortly after news broke that Marcus Smart had agreed to a four-year, $77.1 million extension with the Celtics.
Tatum, the newly minted Olympic gold medalist, took to social media Monday night to congratulate his teammate on his contract. Like so much of what Tatum does off the court it was plain, simple and direct. He's happy for Smart, and in turn must be happy that they'll continue to be teammates, seeing as Tatum himself is beginning a new five year extension with the team. One needn't have studied the transitive property of basketball to figure that one out.
Tatum's tweet flies in the face of those who thought perhaps Smart didn't get along with the younger stars of the Celtics. His extension also flies in the face of all the rumors that had been circulating as to the potential of Smart being dealt this offseason. Smart himself even retweeted a story frequent WEEI guest Chris Mannix had shared about Brad Stevens possibly trading Smart this offseason.
Some, predictably a few hosts at our radio station, have groused about the extension. (Tell us how you really feel, Gary.) Many fans seem in favor of it (Smart's high energy style and professed love for Boston go a long way with C's fans). But for now, the opinion of greatest consequence is the one that came from the quiet star, the one who lets his shots, and teammates like Smart, do the talking for him. Tatum is reserved, Smart is a bulldog. And Tatum is happy for him, and that's what matters most.
