Marcus Smart entered a fan of Celtics in his return to TD Garden on Sunday evening.
This fan, said Smart after the match, “crossed the line”.
Smart, now with Washington Wizards, was seen by leaning on the team bench and entering it with a fan during their 124-90 Defeat against Boston. Things were a little heated, and Smart had to be retained by teammates before the fan was escorted outside the arena. At one point, Smart tried to walk in the bench to approach the fan, but it was selected and seemed to think better.
We do not know what was really said to trigger the altercation, but Smart was clear that it was a step too far.
“We all know that I do not cross online,” said Smart, via the Boston Herald. “And that was everything. We are moving forward. (It’s) unhappy. You never want to see this, especially for a guy who comes back and who gave this city all he has. But that’s what it is.”
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The Celtics have selected Smart with the overall choice n ° 6 of the 2014 NBA recovery from Oklahoma State. He spent his first nine years in the League with the franchise before being exchanged to the Grizzlies of Memphis before the 2023 campaign. He was then treated in Washington before the deadline this season.
In total, the former defensive player of the year collected on average nine points and 3.2 assists per game this season. He has a year left on his $ 76 million contract over four years.
Smart, who missed the Celtic championship race in his first season far from the franchise last season, helped the team go to the NBA final once and the final of the Eastern Conference six times. He did not play in the defeat of the eruption of Sunday evening.
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Wizards have a 17-61 file with four games to do in the regular season. They have the worst record of the Eastern Conference and the second worst in the League behind Utah Jazz. Wizards have already been eliminated from the claims of the playoffs and will miss the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven years. They are in the running to win the overall choice n ° 1 in the draft of the NBA this summer, which Presumably landing them Duke Star Cooper Flagg.
While a fan did not seem to appreciate the return of Smart, it seemed to be the aberrant value.
“Flashbacks, baby,” said Smart, via Herald. “No, but it’s always great. Fans have always shown love, and it definitely brings back memories. I know my wife is there, trying not to cry. It is always a great feeling, but that has definitely brought back memories.”