Ex-Celtics Guard Shares Post-Trade Objective With Bold Message

Marcus Smart hasn’t changed a bit, and the 30-year-old wants everyone to know it.

Whether in a Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies or Washington Wizards uniform, Smart prides himself on delivering a fierce, on-brand style of basketball. So when Memphis traded Smart to Washington in a last-minute trade before the deadline earlier this month, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year committed to reminding the league of what he’s capable of bringing to the table, regardless of where he’s playing.

Smart made his latest appearance in a Wizards uniform during Monday night’s win over the Brooklyn Nets and continued carrying out that very mission. He scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and recorded a rebound, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes off the bench before sending a loud and clear message.

“I just wanna continue to show everybody that I still do this (expletive),” Smart said postgame, per Monumental Sports Network. “Excuse my French. You know, I think a couple of people forgot and that was it. We got a good young team here, we play our ass off and I just wanna come here and contribute.”

It’s been a rough few seasons since the Celtics traded Smart two offseasons ago to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards. Smart, last season, logged just 20 appearances with the Grizzlies, recovering from a sprained left foot and injured finger and this season battled back from a right index finger injury.

Memphis, the current third seed in the Western Conference, essentially gave up on Smart after what seemed like a good fit for the 11-year veteran. Smart’s defensive brilliance and leadership suited the Grizzlies and their young up-and-coming roster hungry to make its mark felt in the league, however, Smart’s struggles to stay healthy didn’t help.

It’s hard to imagine Smart not competing under the bright playoff lights as he did for nine seasons with the Celtics, but that’s not the focus now in Washington.

Smart’s now a member of a rebuild-mode Wizards team, rejoining ex-Celtics teammate Malcolm Brogdon as a veteran for Washington’s youngsters to lean on. The Wizards traded Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks, sit dead last in the Eastern Conference with the worst record in the NBA (10-47) and will return to crossing their fingers in the draft lottery as Duke’s Cooper Flagg considers declaring in June.

Still, through it all, Smart intends to be Smart. No matter what.

“As a player who loves playing the game, who’s a very competitive person, you always play with a chip on your shoulder,” Smart said, per Monumental Sports Network’s Bijan Todd. “To be able to come out here and show the world that you still can do what you’re known for. Cause there is some people that kind of probably slept. You know, I haven’t played in a couple of years consistently and they probably forgot about me, which is cool, I’m used to it. But like I said, I still do what I do.”

So far, Smart has embraced coming off Washington’s bench while playing behind rookie Kyshawn George and second-year pro Bilal Coulibaly. Smart is averaging 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists this season across 20 games.