The Boston Celtics easily defeated the Washington Wizards on Sunday, earning their 58th win of the season.
The Celtics had no issues with the Wizards, who are competing for the top choice in the 2018 NBA Draft. While this was the case, Boston supporters ignored the outcome and instead focused on former Celtics guard Marcus Smart.
Smart, a Wizards player, was warmly welcomed back to the cities where he spent the first nine seasons of his career. Despite the fact that this was Smart’s second trip back to Boston this season, fans couldn’t get enough of him.
After the game, Smart spoke on what it meant for fans to chant “We Want Marcus” in a venue where he had established himself as a professional basketball player.
“Flashbacks, baby,” Smart explained. “The love is always present. The city is viewed from both sides, by myself and the fans. It’s definitely emotional coming back, and you try to keep it together. But I love it. I love everything about it. I’ve been a part of the city for nine years. “A child to a young man.”
While Smart was glad to be back, he felt that a heckler had “crossed the line.”
“He’s just crossed the line. “We all know that I don’t cross lines,” Smart added. “You never want to see that, especially for a guy who’s coming back and has given the city everything he has.”
However, the positives outweighed the negatives.
The Celtics won 124-90, and Smart did not see the floor on Sunday. He did not play because of a coaching choice.
Smart was acquired by the Wizards from the Memphis Grizzlies in a multi-team trade before this year’s trade deadline.
Smart has appeared in only 15 games for the Wizards, including one start. He averages 9.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals in 19.7 minutes of play, shooting 44 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from three.
Smart last played on the court on April 3, when he scored 12 points in 25 minutes in a loss to the Orlando Magic.
Smart became well-known as a Celtic. He was selected sixth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. In 581 games and 30.0 minutes of action, Smart averaged 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from three.
Smart led the Celtics to six conference finals and one NBA Finals appearance during his stint in Boston.
