Former Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart made a poignant return to TD Garden, now donning the Memphis Grizzlies jersey, although he was sidelined with a right ring finger injury.
The Celtics faithful warmly embraced Smart, showering him with gratitude through a heartfelt chant of “Thank You, Marcus!” during the game.
Boston honored Smart with the “Hero Among Us” award for his impactful charitable contributions, accompanied by a touching video tribute that stirred emotions in the crowd.
Despite Smart’s absence on the court, his impact on the team and the city was evident, with fans passionately declaring their love for him: “We love Marcus! We love Marcus!”
Leading the scoring charge for the Celtics with 34 points, Jayson Tatum shared his thoughts on the emotional tribute to Smart.
“It was an incredible moment. What he meant to the team, what he meant to the organization, what he meant to the city. He was loved. Obviously a fan favorite. … It was much-deserved. That was a cool moment to see him get his flowers,” said Tatum, per Souichi Terada.
Acknowledging Smart’s status as a fan favorite, Tatum expressed surprise at the absence of tears from the emotionally charged player, stating, “Surprised he didn’t cry.”
Tatum continued to highlight Smart’s impact, emphasizing his passionate and wholehearted approach to the game, “Everything that he did, everything that he said came from a place of love and him wanting to win.”
