Marcus Smart has finally spoken up about his unexpected departure from the Boston Celtics as part of a trade that will bring his former team, Boston Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis.
The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, now part of the young and exciting Memphis Grizzlies, took to Twitter and Instagram to express the "tuff" twist, saying Boston will always be special and he will never forget his time in the city.
"I came to Boston as a kid from Dallas not really knowing what to expect," he wrote.
"All I knew was the type of work ethic my momma instilled in me and I was going to work my ass off and make sure I EARNED the respect of each and every one of the fans in Boston. Which is why this was tuff. Boston, you are a very special place to me."
Goodbyes are hard.
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) June 23, 2023
But the future is exciting. pic.twitter.com/hULgrVXkmi
Read more: Hilarious! Kendrick Perkins Fall for Social Media Joke
Smart joined Celtics as the team's sixth overall pick in 2014. He got endeared to fans for his hustle and clutch plays on both ends. Such type of game earned him three All-Defensive First Team nods and three NBA Hustle Awards.
Reason for trading is disconnect with Mazzulla?
Celtics fans did not see Smart's departure coming and asked why he was traded. Fanning the flame of hate is analyst Kendrick Perkins who said the trade is not ideal for the 2022 runner-up.
He also revealed that Smart was selected because he and coach Joe Mazzulla are not on good terms.
.@KendrickPerkins "hates" that the Celtics traded Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis 😳
"Porzingis hasn't shown us nothing on the big stage. ... This was a move that was made because Joe Mazzulla and Marcus Smart couldn't see eye-to-eye." pic.twitter.com/MPSk4AJPlI— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 23, 2023
"This was a move that was made because (head coach) Joe Mazzulla and Marcus Smart couldn't see eye-to-eye," he said in the show Get Up.
Related article: Boston Celtics Offload Marcus Smart to Get Kristaps Porzingis
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