Marcus Smart has been a key member of the Boston Celtics in 2014 when he was drafted there out of Oklahoma State.
Since then, he has emerged as an elite perimeter defender and tone-setter for the Celtics. As their efforts to climb the ranks of contention have heated up, Smart’s role has seen a notable increase.
So, when it came time for extension talks, it was no surprise to anyone that both sides were able to reach an agreement right away.
Marcus Smart and the Boston Celtics are staying together for the foreseeable future.
Per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, Smart has agreed to a four-year extension worth $77.1 million that will keep him with the Celtics through the 2025-26 season.
It was an easy choice all around, as it’s clear that Mr. Smart and the Celtics organization are a great fit for each other.
After news broke of the extension, Smart sent the following Tweet in reaction:
☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
+
☘️☘️☘️☘️
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) August 16, 2021
Sometimes, no words are necessary to capture the feel of the moment. Though, Jayson Tatum was able to find the words in his own Tweet:
Happy for my dawg! https://t.co/bHRYfnR3PH
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) August 17, 2021
Love my G- now let’s turn up https://t.co/FhPLuw3KFw
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) August 17, 2021
Locking up Smart was an important move for Boston, especially as the roster grows and learns how to best utilize their talents.
And while they might only be a few pieces away from true title contention, there is a sense of urgency radiating throughout the franchise.
“Our window is definitely closing,” Smart said back in March. “But if anybody can do it, this group of guys, myself included, we can. We just got to figure it out. I think we will. I don’t know when.
We understand that we’re not playing to the standard, up to the pedestal that we have been put on and that we have accepted. We have to look ourselves in the mirror. We go home at night, we feel that pressure on ourselves and the pressure from everybody else. It’s tough. You got to deal with it. It comes with the territory. You got to find a way.”
As a team with a history of greatness and glamour, neither the fans nor anybody within the organization will accept anything less than excellence.
It might take a while to get where they want to be, but they’re definitely more than capable of making some noise.
