One of the more surprising moves of the offseason was the Boston Celtics dealing Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies to make space for Kristaps Porzingis.
Marcus Smart was one of the leaders of a team that are perennial contenders in the Eastern Conference. And now that he is on the Memphis Grizzlies, he is hoping to help Ja Morant unlock the same level that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown did during their time on the Grizzlies.
“It’s huge, it’s huge. Ja is a very special player and he’s very important to this team,” Smart said. For us to do anything great, we’re going to need Ja. And we’re gonna need Ja to be the best he can be.
“For me, as a competitor, I love to push guys to their limit. Especially a guy who’s great. I’ve done it over in Boston with those guys. And he’s my brother, so, I wanna be able to have that same relationship with Ja. He’s a great player and we’re gonna need him to do what we’re gonna do.
"For us to do anything great, we're going to need Ja [Morant]… As a competitor, I love to push guys to their limit… I've done it over in Boston… I want to be able to have that same relationship with Ja."
— Marcus Smart
(via @NBCSCeltics)pic.twitter.com/i20CTQgTbt
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 7, 2023
Marcus Smart was selected by the Boston Celtics in 2016, and he developed into a true leader and one of the NBA’s best defensive players during his time with the team. At that time, he was also able to motivate Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, form relationships with them, and watch them turn into superstars. His experience with young talents is unquestionable, and this could turn out to be big for the Grizzlies.
Ja Morant Could Go To Another Level With Marcus Smart Motivating Him
Marcus Smart has been to the NBA Finals, and despite being only 29, he is very much a veteran in the league. He could be invaluable in terms of motivating Ja Morant, whose stock is currently very low thanks to his 25-game suspension related to gun incidents. Both on the court and off it, Smart could prove to be the perfect teammate that pushes Morant to unlock another level and become a Top 5 player in the league.
Marcus Smart called Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown his ‘brothers for life’ after leaving the Celtics. And if he can manage to find that same level with Ja Morant, the Grizzlies could bounce back quickly to contender status next season. With Smart, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., that defense is already going to be one of the most incredible in the league.
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