One of the most well-known quotes from Marcus Smart is, "I love Boston, and Boston loves me." ”
So, what reason did he have not to wear that green and white jersey for as long as possible?
On Saturday, local time, the Celtics officially announced that the team officially completed the renewal of the contract with Smart. The twice-named player in the All-Defensive Team spent the first seven years of his career with the team, and now that he has completed a contract extension with the team, he will stay with the team for more than a decade after he fulfills the contract.
"I don't want to play for other teams or for fans elsewhere. I love Boston, and Boston loves me. In the years that I've been with the team, we've had a lot of highlights, we've achieved a lot, but there are still a few things waiting for us to get done. I'm ready to put on the Celtics jersey and fight hand in hand with my teammates on the court again. Smart said in an interview.
Renewing Smart, the Celtics have good reason, not just because of his defensive ability, nor just because of his years of leadership of the team.
Yes, on the defensive end, Smart is a player who can change the situation on the pitch and he can defend multiple positions at a high level.
Yes, Smart has been the leader of this team for many years and he cherishes the opportunity to play for this legendary team.
But at the same time, Smart is also a pretty good offensive player.
To recognize this, we have to ignore Smart's shooting data — Smart's average three-point shooting rate in the past three seasons has been 34.8 percent, and in the 2018-19 season, Smart's three-point shooting rate (36.4 percent) is his career-highest.
Shooting aside, Smart did play a big role in the team's offense. After Walker leaves the Celtics, the Celtics will rely more on Smart in the guard position, as Smart is likely to become the team's new starting point guard.
Why say "new"? Because according to the data website BBR, Smart played a total of 48 games last season (starting 45 games), of which 45% of the time was as a point guard, which set a record since his rookie season (at that time he was a point guard 74% of the time).
What will make Celtic's new head coach Udoka feel good is that by the start of the new season, Smart will be grooming the offense for the team for a long time and providing a high personal output.
In fact, Smart has proven it throughout his career. So far, in six of the league's seven seasons, Smart has had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.29:1 or more, and his entire career has never had a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Combining all his skills, as well as his tenacious spirit and inexhaustible energy, we will find that Smart seems to have been born for Boston. In 2014, Smart was selected by the Celtics with the 6th pick in the first round, which felt like a fateful arrangement.
Now, officially announced, they will continue to work together for years to come.