Marcus Smart, Celtics Discuss His Return to TD Garden: 'Forever Be Etched into the City'

Sunday represents Marcus Smart's return to the city and the franchise with which he shares an unbreakable bond.

Despite joining a franchise in the early stages of a rebuild after the departures of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen before that, Marcus Smart helped the Celtics go from a 25-57 campaign to reaching the playoffs. They did so in each of his nine years in Boston.

The C's never had a season with a negative net rating in the former Oklahoma State Cowboy's tenure there, meaning every year of his career, they outscored their opponent with him on the court.

Smart, the heart and soul of the team, also took tremendous pride in being its longest-tenured active player, conveying to Inside The Celtics during a wide-ranging interview, "My teammates feed off my energy. As the longest-tenured Celtic, I feel like it's my responsibility to continue to play 'Celtics basketball.'"

But with Boston wanting to improve a crunch-time offense that's plagued it in recent postseasons, see Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown take even more ownership of the team and become more dynamic offensively, they parted with the Flower Mound, Texas native to acquire Kristaps Porzingis.

Among the seven-foot-three center's many gifts at both ends of the floor, his ability to punish switches is an option that wasn't on the Celtics' menu before he arrived.

And while Smart stated he got told he was safe a week before the trade sending him to the Memphis Grizzlies, he understands this is a business and maintains, "I love this team. I love this organization. I love the people, the fans, and everybody, the support I've always gotten here for my nine years. I'm definitely gonna miss it."

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A day before the 29-year-old returns to his adopted city and the place where he grew into adulthood, his former head coach, Joe Mazzulla, voiced, "Who he is will forever be etched into the city of Boston because of what he's done in community service and what he's done here, just helping represent (the organization)."

The Celtics' bench boss continued, "I think he's one of the guys that started our defensive foundation before I got here … So, just who he is off the court and then kind of what he brought from a mindset standpoint and a defensive intensity standpoint (was special). It'll be good to see him tomorrow."

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The Johnston, Rhode Island native, who, like Smart, has his finger on the pulse of the fan base, also understands that even with the franchise's former floor general inactive for Sunday's game due to a severe right ring finger injury, that the TD Garden faithful have been waiting for the opportunity to shower a player who will forever be in their hearts with the praise he earned with his tenacious play, winning ways, and his impact in the community.

"I think there will be a little bit extra emotion, just because of how Smart's been able to impact the community and impact the Garden so many times," Mazzulla said before quipping, "So, hopefully, during a timeout, I don't know if his hand still hurts, but maybe he can dive on the floor for a loose ball and roll one out."

Reminiscing on their time together, Payton Pritchard expressed, "We went to a championship with him and won a lot of games with him," adding, "He meant a lot to the city of Boston. He did nine years here, so he had a lot of good years, and he was a leader and meant a lot to the organization … "Marcus is just a good dude at heart. He wants to have a good time. He's a competitor. But he looks out for his people, so I admire that about him."

As Smart prepares to step foot in the building that captured many of his favorite basketball memories and his connection with Boston, he told Marc Spears of Andscape, "I can't wait to get back there to see those guys (and) see those fans in the Garden."

As someone who wears his emotions on his sleeve, he knows Sunday's interaction with a fan base he has an unbreakable bond with will be an emotional affair.

"I'm sure I will," stated Smart when asked how he anticipates handling the serenade and the video tribute in store for him. "I'm letting that be a surprise of its own. But those fans are phenomenal there. When they love you, they love you. And I think that comes with just the history that Boston has of winning, and they win, and they love hard, and they hate to lose. So, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the reaction from those fans."

Further Reading

Celtics Accountable, Ready to Move on After Loss to Starless Lakers

Celtics' Fending Off Pacers' Second-Half Surge Reflects Their Determination to 'Fight Through Everything'

Derrick White Opens Up About Shooting Slump After Propelling Celtics Past Pelicans: 'Don't Feel Sorry for Yourself'

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'

Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'