(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics are back to the NBA Finals.
It wasn’t that hard to predict this would happen, as Brad Stevens put on a masterclass when he traded for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Unfortunately, that also meant they had to part ways with Marcus Smart.
But even though the former Defensive Player of the Year isn’t there anymore, that doesn’t mean he’s not making an impact in the locker room.
Following the win over the Indiana Pacers and after being named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown wanted to make sure to give his former teammate his flowers and a shoutout.
Talking to the media, he claimed that with Smart and his vocal leadership not there anymore, he wanted to step up and carry the load for his team (via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston).
“Marcus Smart, one of my brothers that got traded, he was one of the voices of our team. When he wasn’t here I wanted to make sure I stepped in.”
Jaylen Brown talks about his leadership this season @FCHWPO @smart_MS3 pic.twitter.com/tVrLuvca0c
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 28, 2024
Smart wasn’t the best offensive player on the team, but he stepped up big time when they needed someone to make a shot, which is something Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were often criticized for.
He held everybody accountable, sometimes to a fault, and he was the undisputed leader in the locker room.
The Celtics were able to replace him and his defensive contributions with another absolute hound on that end of the floor with Jrue Holiday, and some of their veterans have also stepped up as leaders.
Still, it was nice to see that even if they win the NBA championship and he’s not there, they’re still thankful for his contributions to this project.
The post Jaylen Brown Has Honest Admission About Marcus Smart appeared first on The Cold Wire.