Marcus Smart, the longtime Boston Celtics captain, will be unable to face his former workforce on Sunday due to a sprained ankle. The Grizzlies will host the Eastern Conference powerhouse with a badly undermanned roster. For Smart, this was a game he had encircled in his calendar after he was despatched to Memphis by the Celtics in a 3-workforce deal. He can have to wait for an additional alternative to go up against a few of his closest pals.

The former Defensive Player of the Year was interviewed earlier than the game by NBC Sports’ Abby Chin about his injury. He had this to say about what it meant to him, particularly contemplating the background behind tonight’s Celtics-Grizzlies matchup:

“We’ve been struggling. We obtained an excellent win final night time. To come again and play a workforce like Boston and never be part of it’s undoubtedly devastating.”

Hearing Smart make these feedback shall be unusual for Cs followers. He was drafted by Boston in 2014 and slowly however steadily made his affect on the workforce. After Kyrie Irving left the workforce in the summertime of 2019, he grew to become Boston’s chief and captain.

Marcus Smart was with the Celtics throughout their struggles after the glory years of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. He was a rookie when Rajon Rondo took the reins because the workforce’s unquestioned chief. “Wolverine” was nonetheless within the lineup when the workforce ushered within the Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum period.

Smart outlasted Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker. Ultimately, he was made the Celtics’ level guard after Walker was traded to the OKC Thunder in 2021 to deliver again Al Horford. Most followers thought he would maintain that position for years.

Marcus Smart’s longevity in Boston and his position with the workforce didn’t matter in any respect ultimately. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens determined the workforce could be higher with Kristaps Porzingis within the lineup. “Wolverine” simply had to be the piece Boston would have to land the Latvian.

Marcus Smart discovered he was traded by way of Twitter

Marcus Smart reportedly couldn’t maintain again his tears when he discovered the Boston Celtics had traded him. Worse, he discovered about it not from the workforce’s entrance workplace however from Twitter.

The three-time All-NBA Defensive workforce member was interviewed by “The Athletic” a couple of weeks after he was dealt to Memphis. Smart had this to say concerning the commerce:

“If I’m being fairly frank, I knew I might be traded finally,” Smart mentioned. “Just figured it could be the following season, simply primarily based off my contract and with the brand new CBA. We already knew that. But it was simply the best way it occurred.

“I used to be informed every little thing was good after asking a number of occasions. Like, ‘I’m listening to [rumors], what’s happening?’ And they’re like, ‘No, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good.’ And then after I do hear concerning the commerce, it’s from Shams [Charania] on Twitter earlier than I hear from the workforce.”

On Sunday night time, Marcus Smart will meet a few of his closest pals who additionally went to his wedding ceremony within the offseason. He can solely cheer against them when the Grizzlies host the Celtics. His subsequent alternative to play against his former workforce shall be on Feb. 5 on the TD Garden.