Marcus Smart has enjoyed quite a bit of recent success in the NBA. The Celtics guard was pivotal in helping the team make it to within 2 games of an NBA championship. His stellar defensive play last season also saw him become the first guard since Gary Payton to be named the Defensive Player Of the Year.
There are a lot of things to like about his game, he’s got that edge that a lot of players don’t. Smart’s tenacity, his intensity, and his tactical nous make him an elite defender, and he regularly earns plaudits from media members and fans alike. However, there is a facet of his game that often leaves a sour taste in people’s mouths, Smart is extremely prone to flopping for foul calls.
And for those that think this is a skill he has developed in the NBA, it’s something that has been an aspect of his game since college. During his two years at Oklahoma State, Smart was known for exaggerating contact and flopping. So much so that when his team played Iowa State once, the entire student section hilarious flopped into their seats when Smart’s name was announced.
College basketball crowds are a different breed, and it’s no surprise to see that Smart was getting mocked in these ways. This incident occurred in 2014, and to rub salt into Smart’s wounds, Iowa State wound up winning the game in overtime as well.
It’s safe to say that everything turned out alright for him, though. He was drafted 6th overall by the Boston Celtics that same year, and he has developed into an elite NBA player in his role. The flopping has continued, but it is often also viewed as just a part of the game at the highest level. Having said that, it might be fun if some fans in NBA arenas also bust this old chestnut out when the Cs come visiting next.
