S1E2: Marcus Smart

scenes with the Boston Celtics. Marcus, I had to say your name that way because it's the only way to say it in Boston. But tell me how much you miss here in Tommy Heinstein scream your name like that. Man, It's never gonna get old. You said it right, you know, being in Boston, you have to say my name like that. My name is perfect for the Boston accent with the

two rs and everything. So but I'm definitely gonna miss hearing Tommy saying Marcus and just being able to sit down and you know, really talk to him and pick his brain and listen to what he has to say. Doing preparation for this. One of the most search terms for you is ken Marcus Smart dunk really, yes that First of all, what do you think about that that people think you can't dunk's that's really interesting. You know, I've been dunking since I was in seventh grade, so

it's it's kind of weird to hear that. I guess just because I don't really dunk so much anymore, that that people forget that. I still came. Well, I gotta jump in and say, I just talked to one of your teammates recently, probably about a week ago, offline, and he told me, well, I asked him who the best dunkers on the team are now that Javante is no longer in Boston. Guess whose name came up. Of course Marcus Smart's name came up. But I'm told that you

do some crazy things behind closed doors. I mean, I know you do the over the head shot when you're warming up before the game. I've heard that you had some pretty crazy dunks and and just some shots that you make when the doors are closed and no one else is in there. Definitely, there's a lot of things that my teammates they get to see that others don't, especially like during practice. You know, I'm always betting those

guys just messing with him. You know, I missed a couple of shots that they're like, there's nowhere you're gonna make and then you know, out of nowhere, like just bety one shot is all at me, and then I'll shoot it and walk away and goes in there like how does he hits that every time? Or I'll do some type of some type of shot or or dunk or something to the basket that that just has him in awe and they're just like, why we don't see this in the games? Is like, listen, this is this

is not for games stuff, right, why not? Why don't you bring it to the parquet? Marcus? Unfortunately I don't get that opportunity like others do it to bring it to the parque, So you know, I kind of keep it in my back pocket. Well, Marcus, it's crazy to me. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was down in New York City. I believe it was at the Barclay Center at that time on Draft night and your name gets called. I'm the first person from the Celtics to shake your hand. I don't even know if

you remember that I actually do. We walk in the back and you know, we start to talk and you open up your jacket and you're telling me about what's on the inside of your jacket. First and foremost, does it not feel like time flys in this business? That that was seven almost eight years ago at this point, Yeah, I thought the same. And secondly, didn't that jacket basically

like tell your life story? I feel like everything important to you was on that jacket now, definitely, you know, and I thought the exact same, you know, Toms Fly. You know, I'm talking to my family, I'm talking to you know, the teammates, the younger guys here, and you know, just reminiscing how you know quickly that you know, I mean year seven already, and it felt like yesterday. I was just hearing my name being called and speaking of that jacket. I still have that jacket to this day.

You know, it's it's like hung up, it's preserved perfectly. But yeah, I told my life story. You know. It had the tattoo I have with my brother, you know, my mom's name, my high school where I'm from, a couple more tattoos, my college number. It was just a whole unique creativity thing that we did with the jacket.

From my mom at that time when she was still here to to to witness it and and to really bring into fruition that you know, um, the dream that that I've been working for and that she sacrificed so much for us finding me here. Where's that jacket hanging to that? It's in my closet at my house. I'll keep it everywhere, no matter where it stays with me. I'm waiting. I'm trying to get a frame for it. I'm actually framing with the with the jacket open and

hang it up so it would never be forgotten. So right now, it's robe robe, rob ro rope, jacket robe, robe rope. That's what your closet looks like exactly. And Young Game change your sweatshirts, so definitely Game changes sweatshirts. But Marcus, it is that origin story is what we want to get into today and and talk about with

you and hear you tell your story. So for me, I think when I hear your story, what stands out to me your mom, And I think we're gonna talk a lot about your mom, Camelia, but also your brother, and you mentioned Todd. Can you tell us about Todd? You know from me? Being so young, I didn't really get to see him play as much. You know, to be honest, I didn't get to see him play at all. I've been told he was even better than you. Definitely, definitely so he actually he definitely actually was. He was

actually the tallest one of my family members. He was six six and you know, he was more of the score of the family when it when it came to that, he didn't played no defense at all, but yeah, you know he so that doesn't run in the family. It does. Actually, he's the only one. You know, the other two of my brothers, you know, they played defense and you know, um, you know they're defensive minded. But him, he was straight scored the ball and that was all he cared about.

He can walk into Jim, not stretch, and score the ball and that was kind of his thing. So he actually played with Thomas Hill, who actually played in Duke and went to do so him and Thomas here were teammates and it was just unique to hear about that. And too, you know, I've seen a few videos of him. When he was docgnosed with cancer. He ended up having a tumor behind his left eye, so you know, he had to go into the hospital on the game day.

I think it was senior night. I want to be I'm not sure it was senior night or was in the night, but he was checked in the hospital and you know, he was goetting to his chemo and got this tumor by his left eye that just closed his eyes shut. And literally about twenty minutes before the game, they said, he comes walking in, it's a full loaded gym. Everybody's like, you know, they're kind of upset because he's

not gonna be here. They understand what's going on. And then they see him walk in and walk out with his jersey and warm up and they're like, what are you doing? Like who checked you out of the hospital, And he's like myself, He was like, if I'm gonna die or guy's gonna take my life, where I'm gonna, you know, leave this world, I'm gonna do it my way, you know, and doing what I love to do, and

that's playing basketball. This is what makes me happy. And they said he went out with one eye closed and score I think like thirty plus points and just shot the ball like sufficiently, very well. And it was it was just a sight to hear and just to hear my family explain it to me and talk about it was just something that, you know, just always stuck with me.

How many times have you heard that story, Marcus? Probably a million times literally, Like every time we get together as a family and we get together, were reminisce about all the good times we had this thing where since I was younger, my family would come over at like around Friday night on the weekends and you know, they're growing up who played cards, dominoes, cook drink, you know,

their alcoholic brivilege. The kids would be in the other room outside on the basketball court on the field at the park playing and you know, just really really having those generations mixing and keep the family together for the people out there who don't know you, guys, you and Todd were separated by years, right, Tim's two, so about twenty to thirty years almost, so he would have been to this day fifty one or fifty two, I can't remember off the top of my head. So and that's

why you weren't able to watch him. That being said, I'm sure that he had a pretty significant impact on your life in general. What what do you remember most about your days with him before he did pass away um, although I wasn't able to see him on a basketball court, just being in my life in general, you know, he was the guy. He was one of those guys that you know, you can tell he was sick. You can see it. You know, he was already a tall, kind

of slender guy. So you know, the chemo really affected them. You know, when it got to his stomach and came back and started to spread, he started to lose a lot of weight that he already didn't have. So it was very relevant that you can see to the eye, but he never allowed that effect him. There'd be days where he comes from chemo and you you know, he's hurting and he don't want to eat anything, he can't

keep anything down, and he's tired. But he'll be like all the kids, let's go, We're gonna go to the pool. You know, we take us to the fitty pool and and you know, he sits out there in the hot sun and and you know, he picks up some type of energy I don't know where he gets it from to get in and play with us a little bit and take us to get ice cream. And then it was times where the same thing. You know, he comes

home he's not feeling willing. And you know, my mom, she was a home nurse, so she was constantly taking care of him. Her brother at the time before he passed, he was a paraplegic, so he, you know, he was pay lots from the ways down. So she was taking care of both of them and you know, going to house to house and taking care of other people. So she had a lot on plate. And he would come in and she knew how tired he was and things, and he'd be like, let's go to the mom, let's

go shopping. She's like, no, it's okay, and he's like, I'm not asking, like let's go. Like you know, he was just that guy, you know, no matter how bad he felt within himself, he never allowed that the show with us and let it affect him of intertwining and you know, just being in my life. How old were all that was going on. I was about eleven around that area. I remember actually the day that he finally

was pronounced dead. It was what week before. My mom had actually got in a car accident and she was and you know, went to the hospital and she was okay, but it was a scared because they kept in here for about two or three days to make sure things okay. And I just remember coming home from school with me and my cousin one day and my aunt comes home and she's crying, and I'm like, what is going on? Thinking what happened? Like what's going on? My mom, like

what's going on? And she's just bawling, and I'm just like, what is going on? You know, and we kind of me and my cousin kind of feeled the energy and we started crying, and then she tells us, hey, we got to go to the hospital. You know, it's tied, and you know, my mind is on my mom. So when I heard it was tired, like I just froze, you know, And instantly when she said that, like my mind just went to the worst thing possible, that it's over, like he's no longer with us, which she ended up

going to say that he's brain dead. We have him on life support, but they pronounced him brain dead, and the families there and they're about to take him off, and so you we need to go to the hospital. So and it was crazy because I had an AU game tournament that we were supposed to go to, and my mom and everybody was just like, you know, we figured, you know, you didn't want to go, so they canceled and told my coach that he's not coming because my

whole team knew. Everybody but me at the time knew about my brother, and today was waiting to tell me. And I remember we got in the car. We're rushing to the hospital. I see some of my family members outside, and I remember it is like the longest hallway I've ever walked in my life or ran down my my life. I'm running, you know, and I just see family members left and right coming in and crying, and I'm just like, oh gosh, like what's really going on? Like is this true?

Like is this really happening? And I remember I walked into the room and to my mom, he's my cousins, And I remember they had him and his in the hospital bed. His hoyspit shut. He was on his back, he had his hands crossed, and my mom was sitting by his side. She was holding his hand and she was crying, and I remember asking me, can I touch him? Like what it like? I don't know, like what is this like? It looked like he was sleeping, so I

didn't know what was really going on. To it to the extent, and she was like, yeah, you know, trying to fix herself. And I remember touching his feet and they were cold and like cold as ice, and I was like, why is he so cold? Like what's going on? And you know, at the time, like I knew his brain dead, but she was like, you know, he can still hear you, you know, just talk to him. You know.

I remember climbing in bed with him, giving him a hug and kissing on his head and told him, you know, I love you, and you know I wish you you would come back to us, but we understand, and you know, don't worry. I got everything from here. And I remember walking out the room. I couldn't take it. So I walked out the room and my oldest brother at the time. I remember it was crazy because I'm like a twelve

year old. He grabbed me and was like, you know, wipe your tears, like as he's crying, wipe your tears. You know, we don't have time for this, you know what I'm saying, Like he's gone. You know, it's all on you now. You know, this was the last line of defense for the family. He was the one that was supposed to you know, change everything, and you know, change everything around for the family. Now it's on you.

We don't he was talking about him and my other brother of time, we don't have our chances, and you know, we don't let up on it. You know, Mom, she's all you got now, you all she has, and you're the one that has to do it. So there's no time for you to be a kid. So you gotta throw all that kids stuff out the window. And like, you know, I know you want to be with your friends,

but this isn't the time to do that. You know, you gotta really focus and you gotta get to college, and you have to make your dream come true because you're it. So you know, I've never had a spring break in my life. It was very rare that I hung out with friends. I was playing every weekend, every day. I was playing, not only in high school. We go straight from high school to summer ball and summer ball back to high school, two different It was just I was constantly busy. I was a lot of times I

was away from my family. So that's kind of where it has been for me ever since. You know, I had this momset where you know, every day I go out here. I have to play like it's my last because it could possibly be my last. And uh, you know, my oldest brother didn't have a chance to to to to live out his dream and it was taken away from the short in a short amount of time. So you know, you have to go out here and never

take this game from granted. I mean, Mark, because I just listening to you say all of that and talk about all of that that could happen in one day to a kid who's ten, eleven, twelve years old. Those are like your developmental years, where you know, not a lot of people go through that type of tragedy and are able to come out on the other side stronger.

Is what it sounds like like that that moment in the hallway with one of your other older brothers really changed you for the rest of your life when you look back on that moment, just how important. I mean, obviously it's one of the toughest days of your life, but it sounds like it's also one of the more inspirational and positively impactful days in your life as well. Definitely, you know, and then and even after you know, when we finally put them the rest and buried them and

you know it didn't just automatically click with me. I was in in a bad state of mind. I was in a bad place, a very dark place where you know, I was rebelling. I was, you know, just doing everything our kids to to get the pain away from me, and uh really diverted away from me into something else. So you know, I was, you know, I was getting in fights in schools. Actually got kicked out of my school and Lancaster, and it's kind of how I ended up in Flower Mount. I got kicked out of my

school and Lankester. I end up going to stay. What most got you kicked out fighting, so I actually got in. They had a rule like too many fight rules, so I think this was like my tent fight of the year. And they were like, you know what, we're ride and because this time I put a kid almost in a hospital, so they were like this is enough. So they sent me to what's called Alternative Educational program AP never forget it. It was. It was horrible. It was it was there's

a place that you don't want to be. I've seen kids that were in there some second grade and now in eighth grade, and it's it's pretty much a kid jail, you go to school and at the time we were in uniforms, so you know, you can only wear a orange shirt, white shirt, black shirt, those on three colors you can wear. You gonna wear khaki pants, black pants, white pants, black shoes, white shoes. And I remember your first ten days in there, your white shirt, and everybody

knows you have on a white shirt. You a newbie. Everybody knew it day because they started off with thirty days. They give you thirty days, and you can obviously get more time added, more time released literally like like it's a kid's prison, like, uh, day twenty to thirty. You got on the black shirt, and so keep you got people kind of know like okay, they're kind in the middle of their time, they almost getting out, and if you have an orange shirt, you're on your last ten

days or whatever. You're kind of getting out. And you actually have to give like inmates do when they come up for parole. They have a hearing of should we let you out or not? You know, and you can get an early release or they can wait till your actual day to release you. In you know, it was crazy. This is how we had. They made a standing line everywhere we went. We walked in line, one out to learner following the leader couldn't break the line. We had

report cards every day. If if your report card didn't like if you're grade was below a ninety, that they didn't count so that they remained it on your record. So you have every day and you know, if say you get in the fighting there or you get into some trouble there, it wasn't like, all right, send you to the principal officer, the principle will come down. He

will give you an option. You can get more days at it, or you can take three paddles with the paddle, and you know, so it was just like this guy he was like six mine, just a big guy. And uh, I've seen guys and girls take up to tony podders one time, like it's just like what are y'all doing? Like I've seen people like get a hundred more days because they didn't want to take the paddle, so the days kept adding up. And it was this just crazy to me to hear this because this isn't that long ago.

I feel like right now, like you would not hear about that anywhere in America. It's like, not okay, anymore. I don't know. Crazy stuff happened to Texas. Yep, it was. It was a different, it was a different. I mean, I've had kids where yeah, it's it's it's it's Texas. Texas is weird. It's his own little state, it's his own little country in a sense. Um. But I've seen kids where are you coming in to school or leaving

and they're on the school bus coming in there. We had one kid on the who pete in the water bottom threw it at a teacher off the school bucks like these the type of kids that I'm in at this school with, Like I'm constantly have to watch my back because I might have to I might have to fight somebody here. And that's just how it was. And you know, my mom, I'm like, dang, like how did you get out? Marcus? When I first went in, I was just like I was really down, like I don't

want to be here. I should be here, like this is this is crazy? Like what's going on? You know? And I just remember my mom telling me, you know, just something you gotta deal with you You got yourself into this, and you gotta you gotta, you gotta do the time. You gotta get up out of there, and you gotta mind your business and you know, and get up out of here. So you know, it was a lot of temptations. It was a lot of people really edging me on and you know, trying to give me.

You know, just remember, you know, just keeping my head down and you know, staying to myself as much as I could, trying to do all the work I could, just really trying to be good and get this good behavior where I can get an early release. And I remember, I think I got out on day I went up to the board and they asking me these questions why I think they should let me go? Have I learned my lesson? Like it was very humiliating, Like, like I said, I was a kid prison you I'm looking like what

is going on? And then you know they have every responsibility and you know, the leverage to deny you and say no, we don't think you've learned a lesson ten more days, Like it was ridiculous. So but you know, I just continue to stay my course. And really I thought about what my brother told me. You know what I'm saying, like the road I'm going down is not what Todd would have gone. And if he was here. He wouldn't even allow you to be going through this,

so like, what are you doing? I remember, you know, once I got out, I told my mom I had a friend who lived in Red Oak at the time, was about twenty minutes from Lancaster, and I used his addressing and I started going school there for my seven to eighth grade year, and then I got into some trouble there my eighth grade year with a teacher. I remember, I'm like, I can't do this anymore. So my best friend, Phil Forte is that Flairmont already. I remember we were

at a tournament. His dad was like, listen, you know, it's a great school up here. It's a refreshing new vibe for you. It's a great education. If you get in and you know you will have somebody that you know, a friendly faced to help you get around. So it was weird because I'm at the time, I'm a ninth girl. To two weeks in, I tell my mom, I'm like, listen, I can't do it anymore. She was like, what are

you talking about? So I explained the situation. I'm like, it's getting to the point where like I'm going down one road, two roads, it's even in jail or I'm gonna be dead by the age of twenty one, Like I see it, because it's just so much out here that's tempting for me, and it is really trying me. So she was like, so what are you saying. I'm like, we gotta move, you know, at a kid at this age to make that decisions, you know, it took a lot because I'm leaving my family behind, leaving all my

friends behind, and starting something new. And I moved to a predominantly all white school, like I'm just I'm already just damn, you know. And I remember we said okay, and three days later, I go and get my transkts from the school and everybody's surprised, like where are you going because I didn't tell anybody. I just left and they were like, oh my gosh, like why are you leaving? And like, I just got to do it. Never talked to it. I rarely talked to to some of my

friends back at the time. Back then, I think about it then, it was probably the best decision I could have made for not only me and my family in my career, you know, And you know, I'm thankful for that, you know, and it took a lot, and like I said, those words from my older brother really resonated with me, and stay with you to make that decision, because I really didn't want to make it. I was terrified. I

didn't know what I was getting myself into. But like I said, I'm very glad that I made that that movie, Marcus. The older brother that you're talking about is that Michael. Nope, my oldest brother, Michael is the next younger. He's the second youngest compared to me. The brother I'm talking about is jeff His name is Jeffrey Westbrook. My oldest brother is Todd Westbrook. And the next older is Michael Smart and then it's me the youngest him and the age

difference between me and Michael are nine years. So we were all kind of scattered around the charts when it comes to that, because that was my next question. While all of this is going on, Michael was having his own struggles right definitely, you know, and he was taking tides you know, death, very hard, just as hard as I was. And you know he was he was caught up into life early where we stayed. You know, he was in the games, he was out in the streets,

passed curfews. He was doing this, He was doing all kind of stuff, you know, he was. I've seen him deal drugs to my some of my friends in high school, and I'm just like, like, what do I say? Like what do you say like to this, Like I like, I gotta go to school with this kid, Like, but this is my brother, Like what do you say? You know? I was, I was. I was constantly being stuck in

what did you say or did you not say? I just I stayed away from it, you know, And that's the one thing I can you know, although he was going through his mess, one thing he made clear is that everybody stayed away from me. You know, don't don't He's not involved, he's not in the game, he's not affiliated with none of y'all. He's not doing drugs. Don't come his way, like, stay away from him. So it was, you know, that aspect was cool. So it was I was cool with those guys and they knew not to

mess with me. But at the same time, like if anything was to go wrong, I knew that if my brothers went around, I knew I still had people around it I could I could go to if I needed to. So it was. It was weird. It was you know, having that he he was dealing with his own little things, and you know, to to have him, you know, come up on the other side was a miracle for us. I remember literally about four days after we bury tired.

I never forget it. I walked in my Michael's room and I opened his drawer and I see a plate a razor in this crystallized white rock and I'm like, what the I think it's at the kid Kim like it's just some sugar, Like why you got sugar on the plate? Like what is he doing that? He didn't taste it me too, and I was like, no, that's not sugar. It had no smell. Like, I was like, don't I set it down? Day seven, we get a call that my brother's in the hospital. Um, like, what's wrong?

He o d And remember my uncle who was paralyzed at the time. He was laying in his bed and my brother was standing in the doorway talking to him, and he just collapsed. And my uncle crawled out of his bed. Remember, because he's paralyzed from the waist down, crawled out of his bed, picked him up. He had hit his eye on the fan when he fainted, he felt so hard that it just left a big black eye and picked him up calling on on one that came pumped his stomach and the doctor told him, he

said listen. After he got down he woke up, he said, listen, my job is to say live. If you're gonna do this to yourself, don't come back to this hospital. They said he had enough cocaine in his system to probably kill the baby horse. At that time, I'm my god, which was, like I said, a miracle. Like we couldn't even like we were like, yo, like what's going on. That's when we figured out, you know, he had he was really taking it hard, and like I said, for him to come out on the other side ofday, it

was a miracle for us. You know, he's doing great. And I think you know it sounds like both of your brothers, who you've talked about to this point of some pretty difficult stories, they impacted you in different ways and got you to where you are today in a way. And I know you've mentioned her many times already, and every time someone google's Marcus Smart, your mom's name is

going to be attached to it in the result. Because you have so many stories about how she impacted you, just your your family altogether and your mom leading the way. Talk about your mom. I do want to hear you talk about your mother, Camelia and in her impact on turning you into who you are today. Oh man, she was. She's my best friend. I think for for her having all boys he was, it was perfect for her because she was more of the tomboys type of mom where

you know, she played basketball. You know, her mom played basketball, her mom played softball. Like she had a lot of brothers who were just kept around and you know, um, so for me having her, she's my best friend. She always told us if you can't talk to me about it, you shouldn't be doing it. So you know, it didn't matter what it was, no matter what trouble we was in, we could always go to her and you know, just

talk to her. You know, I had numerous talks about you know, the fights and I don't feel like this, and and you know she's just constantly giving me that advice to move on. And when I'm down and don't know what to do, she was constantly here. But and I think it showed, you know, everybody that knew her loved her. Everybody that didn't know her loved her because of just who she was. You know, she she she was so selfless. She would give her right arm for anybody.

It was times where she didn't eat because she was making sure we were okay. I just remember that I was seven at the time, and I was in my dad's pickup truck. He's driving, I'm in the middle, She's on the right, and she was, you know, just kind of down a little bit. And I kind of feel it was right before Todd's incident and before he passed, and you know, you kind of tell it was kind of getting to her, and I just, you know, I

tapped him like Christmas was coming around as well. I'm like, Mom, what's wrong, Like, you know, She's like nothing, It's okay. I think at the time it was we didn't have anything to give me for Christmas. Like guess wise, you know. I just told her. I was like, I'm good, I don't She asked me, what do you want for Christmas? Like I don't want nothing, you know, I just want to be with my family, Like I just want to be able to spend Christmas with my family and brothers life.

And I remember telling I said, and I chatter on the back of the neighborhood, and I said, don't worry. When I make it to the NBA, you would never have to work again, and I'll make sure that. And she just busted out crying. And how old were you when that happened. I was seven? You were seven? I was seven years old. I said, if God my exact word, if God blessed me to to make it to them, being live my dream, you would never have to worry

about anything in your life again. And she didn't. She didn't at all, you know, and she cried, and you know, at the time, she was like, yeah, all right, you know I think I said that to my mom and she was like, that's not happening. So, you know, it's a seven year old, you know, you hear that as a pairy Look, Okay, it's cute, Okay, you don't really

believe it. And then, like I said, the Christmas thing came around, and I remember, you know, Christmas came and I didn't get any gifts that I knew I wasn't getting. But my brother tied, like I said, although he was sick, he found a way. Her and him found a way till they got me my first basketball goal, like at the house that I had to play on, and he gave me a necklace with my initials. He got all of us and necklaces with our initially wrapped them up

in newspapers. Everybody's like, what is this, and you know it's the jewelry box. So after the New Year's he ended up passing away. So I got to have my wishes, spending one last Christmas with my brother and family. But my mom, she's all rock. You know, we're all mama's boys. You know, no offense to our dad. We love them to death. But it's just a different vibe we have

with our mom. And I think he knew that, and everybody everybody knew us knew that, like you know it no matter what, like this is our mom, Like you don't don't don't try it, don't don't try anything. You don't try to get over on her, like we're not having it in And she showed that, she showed up love and she let it be known. I love my boys and you know, but she also she was firm. She didn't you know, having all boys, you kind of have to be. I heard she was tough on you guys.

She was. She was the toughest of us. All Like, it's funny because we're here like people like at the age a you, we we always had coaches cussing everything and it was fine. We were just like okay, and everybody's like like like that scares It's like, hi, y'all these I'm like, listen, you know my mom, that's normal life. That's this is nothing. My mom like, it's ridiculous. All right, Well,

we've heard quite a bit about your upbringing. We're gonna take a quick commercial break and talk about how that upbringing has turned you into who you are today and the player that the Boston Celtics and all of this fan base loves seeing take the court every single night. We'll be right back. I know I've been waiting forever to get back into TV Garden for a live Celtics game,

and I know you've been feeling the same way. So why not make up for some lost time get in on all of the action for next season by signing up for the Celtics Season ticket Member Waitlist presented by American Express. Listen. When you sign up, you'll get priority access to purchase season ticket memberships for the two season once tickets become available. So after you're done listening here, head on over to Celtics dot com slash waitlist to sign up today and you'll be back inside the garden

in no time helping your boys grab a win. All right, Well, Marcus, you told us quite a bit about your upbringing and and really how that impacted really when you were in your years where you were being molded by everything that was going on around you, and that turned you into who you are today. But let's talk about who you are today. To me, you're just wired differently, man like you're you're like a different type of dude that's out

there on the court every night. And really for the people who don't know you all too well, you're different off the court as well. You've got a very tight inner circle. You don't go on social media all too often. You're off there or you're you're on there mostly to promote your community um goings and what you're trying to do for kids out there with your Young Game Changers Foundation.

Talk to me about why that is the case, Like, why do you have such a tight inner circle and you don't want to go on social media and you don't go out in party. That's just not really who you are in your bones. For me, it really just goes stems back to you know, losing to two people in my life that were very important, but just growing

up in general. You know, my mom always taught us, you know, that it's better to give them to receive, never stop your blessings, you know, by helping somebody else, you know, you do it because it's the right thing to do nothing in return. And so when my brother passed, you know, I wanted to start you know, the Your Game Changer Foundation to help find a care for cancer mentor you know, the youth and the younger kids, especially

in the urban cities and things like that. And then of course following that, my mom comes down with the cancer as well. So it really just I guess prompted me to keep going even more and that I was on the right track of doing the right thing. And what I what I feeled, I was put on this you know, this earth to do, you know, And I always told my mom and and people who know me, you know, I tell him a lot like and why are you why? Like why are you so happy? Like

off the court? Like you're different. I'm like listen, like, why are you such a a good person? And I just told them, you know, from everything I've been through, you know, and that I understand. You know, what parents, what families go through of losing a loved one at an early age or older age, or just losing them in general. So my job, you know, is to to bring a smile. And like I told them, if I could bring a smile to just one person face, then

I did my job here. My mom always told me there's always somebody going through something way worse than you are. Never forget that, and usually you don't know that they're going through that exactly. It's a lot that you don't know people. So for me, it's not so quick to judge a person just off of you know, what they're going through or how they acted in this certain moment, because you don't know what prompted them to do that. You know, you don't know what they're going through at

that time. So, you know, being able to have this foundation, being able to talk to kids, or having you know, families and younger kids that you know are trying to deal with certain problems that they have no clue, you know, for me, it was a little bit tougher because I didn't have somebody to to sit me down and be like, I've been through what you're going through. I understand it. I know this is what's gonna happen. So I wanted to be that. I want to be that person and

be that for everybody. And the social media thing, you know, I never really big being on social media. Social media is a lot of trouble, you know. I love social media for the stuff. You know, it's a lot of way. It's a platform for you to use in different aspects. You know, a lot of people on social media, a lot of people generate revenue from from social media, you know.

So you know, social media is great, you know, and I think it is great, but it's not for everybody, and it's not for me, you know, I'm not really Sometimes it can be really toxic. It can be where it is toxic. You know, too much of anything could be toxic. So I'm not the one that like to really be seen. I think it kind of shows it with the way I play. I'm more of a playmaker than anything. I love, you know, getting my teammates involved

the social media never really click with me. I've never been in social media didn't get a Facebook until my senior year high school, and didn't get an Instagram into midway my freshman year colleague. And that's because I was forced to on both of those because my friends, like you have to get one. It's just it's just weird,

you know. I just want to be, Like I said, I just want to be that person that you know when kids look up you know, they could say that, you know, not basketball wise, but life wise, like you know I look up to him, you know, in that aspect that you know he understands me, like I can actually sit down and talk to him and the kids that I I'm mentor and talk to you like we keep it real, you know, I tell him keep it as real as possible. You know, I don't talk to him,

you know, I don't sugarcoat anything with him. I keep it real whatever. Like there's nothing you can't ask me where it's off balance, it's it's out of bounce for us, you know, you talk about it all and just people I talk to in general. You know, I'm as you can see, I'm an open book. Like you ask me

about my life. I'm not gonna hide anything, you know, even with my why You're perfect for this podcast, man, Seriously, that's why we wanted to have you on here because you have a great story and we want people to hear it. You say you don't you don't want to be flashy though, you don't want to put yourself out there. But you wear the robe topless with a lion on it, right, is it? Gucci? I'm sorry, I'm sorry you're putting something out there for the record. Uh. And then social media

if you're not on it? How difficult is it though? Too? You guys talk about how it can be toxic. How difficult is it to block all of that out and all of the criticism? And I think especially in a season like this one, you know, the fans have a lot to say and and a lot of it is is pretty negative. Have you ever thought about getting a Burger account? But has there ever been a moment that you just like almost just wanted to respond to someone

or say something. No, because if I respond or say something, I want you to know it's coming from me. I don't because I've actually have responded to some people privately before that was kind of, you know, being negative, and as we all know that negative that they were showing online when you actually hit them up, just like that

quick as possible. You know. I've I've had some guys talking crap about me and it was crazy and I I d M them, and you know, I said, if you get listen, if you've got anything to say, I'm right here. I'm not hiding from me. I'm not with the you know, I need everybody to hear my conversation. Even when I get into arguments, like if I have something to say, I'm not going to social media. I'm a d M you personally, that's between us. I don't need everybody in my business, you know. And that's just

kind of how I was raised, you know. But yeah, I never really did the Bernard counts. I don't really like him. Like, if I got something to say, or I feel like, if you're gonna say something, stand on it, show your face, show your name, stop hiding behind it. Go ahead and do it. Marcus. You take that same

attitude into the locker room, right. I mean, we heard the story about the bubble and the altercation between um you and Jalen, and I'm just curious how I did not throw anything, by the way, did anyone throw anything wasn't me. I'm not saying anything. I don't know what was thrown. I actually left, That's what I'm saying. I left and went to the restaurant even there. So, but of course, you know, it's a reputation behind me. It's

been a hothead. So it is what it is. You know, I'm perfectly fine with being that martyr for this team because we need it. And I'm perfectly fine being that. My teammates, like I said, they respect me. They understand that it's coming from a great place when I do have those moments. But no, I did not throw anything in the bubble. And yeah, how have those conversations evolved

as you have taken on a larger leadership role? And how do you view yourself as being that guy in the locker room whose job it is to say something. It's a thin line though, you know, because you're dealing with different personalities. You know, we have a lot of pisces and areas on this team. You know, there's a lot of creatures. We're going to strategy here. Yeah, you know, even in the past, like you know, it was a

lot of pisces you know, and areas in here. So there was a lot of emotions and it's just you know, you have to you know, you have to tread lightly.

But at the same time, you know you have to be to the point where you know, you have to be real with yourself and that's not that's everybody, you know, And in order for us to be where we want to be, like, we can't sugarcoat anything with us because it's just only gonna, you know, cause more strife between us or you know, cause more negativity throughout you know, the workplace. So you know, you just try to be

as blunt as you can respectfully. And like I said, you know, you gotta be You gotta know who you're talking to. You know, certain people you can talk to certain ways and still get your point across. You just gotta keep it real. And I think that's what you know, the team that we have, you know, we're able to sit down and you know, talk, just talk. You know, no matter what, you know, if you don't like something about this person, or you don't like something about what's

going on, talk about it. Don't just let it build up. And I think over the years we allowed it to build up a lot instead of just talking about it. So me being that person that has come on out and saying and kind of, you know, hit the elephant

in the room right away. I think it allows other guys whose personalities isn't probably prompted to just come out and be that allows them to have a safe haveing like, all right, what's out Like we can actually talk about it like and not feel guilty or feel like, you know, they're stepping on to You said that you have a reputation as a hothead, but I don't. I don't think

that the reputation is that you're a hothead. I think the reputation is just that you're incredibly emotional, and I think that you have kind of told us the story of why you are so emotional, because all of these things from your childhood fuel who you are today on and off the court. I do have a line about your emotional state though, that I was told by someone close to you about there's a line between playing emotional and playing emotionally drunk. I'm sure you know where that's

coming from. But how difficult, how difficult is that to tow that line in the middle of the game that matters so much to you that you want to bring wins to this franchise, But at the same time, you want to bring out as much emotion as you can because that's what fuels what you do every night. Wait, hold on, Mark, we're going behind the scenes. So who's your anonymous source. Yeah, that's any of course, as Kenny Kenny Borne. You know, he's always he's always said that

since my firstman year. And Kenny Kenny was Marcus High, one of Marcus High school coaches, So just to share that with everyone, he's he's a great guy. But yeah, he's definitely been same and since my my freshman year. It's to the point where, you know, I've been always told and talked that and we kind of forget that. You know, not everybody thinks the same as you. Not

everybody feels the same as you. So you know, my emotions the way I bring them out in the way I played, somebody else might not play like that, So they might live like curiously through me emotionally because they like, that's him, Like we need that from him, and I'm gonna ride it off of him because that's him. So for me everything in my childhood Fielded, I just go out there and like I said, I played every game

like it's my last because it possibly could be. And like I said, my brother's life was taken too soon and he didn't get a chance to live his dream. So but how hard is it to tell that line though? Because there there have been moments both in college and I'm sure in high school and in the pros where you've gone over it and you probably admit it, but it was just your emotions getting to hold of you. How how tough is it to tow that line? Yeah,

so it's very tough. Everybody knows that I wear my my heart on my sleep and it's I'm very passionate. And it's tough because the simple fact, like I said, not everybody feels the same way you feel. It's kind of like people who drink when they're you know, intoxicating, and you're not. It's like, oh my gosh, like what is going on? Like oh my god, dude, Like I can't believe, like I'm dealing with this right now. That's kind of how it is. Like, that's how people feel

about me all the time. Market what are you trying to say? That's how people feel about you when you're out there and you're emotional, and that's why I feel when I'm the one emotional and I don't feel that from everybody else. It's like, I don't see how y'all don't feel this passionate. I feel like I don't see how y'all like y'all don't want to go out here and give everything you have on the court. And once again I have to stop myself from realize sometimes because

not everybody went through what you went through. Not not everybody experienced the things that you experienced at a young age early age and have to see and witness that gives you this feel. They get their fuel another way. So that's what makes it hard because you've been talked this way. You care so much that it's like when you don't see people matching that it comes off so they don't care and it comes off as the arrogant type of feeling to you, and it's like, that's not

how I was, righted. I worked too hard. I work just as hard as you, like I need everything you've got, because you're gonna get everything I had. And that's where the line comes because you expect people to feel how you feel, but like I said, you can't because not everybody. It's brought up the same way or experience the same things that you've experienced. And one guy who I'm sure you've talked to quite a bit throughout your career here with the Celtics about that emotional state is Danny Ainge.

I know you guys are really tight. Why are you tight? Talk about emotional though? By the way, Danny on the said line, Danny, that is that is pure, Like give me, give me a Danny camera during the games. I just want to see that. Oh man, if we need that, we need that. That the ratings with skyrocket, if I think they would, I think they would. But I think with Danny, because you guys are polar opposites from the outside.

Oh yeah, definitely, definitely. But I think for Danny, I think when he looks at me, it reminds him of himself in some ways where you know, Danny was a little fiery on the court as well as we all know so and still is, like dannyd go play golf and if he loses, we really here about it the next day, like he's like yeah, just the first like

he just goes in. And even on the court, you know you hear Danny sometimes yelling at you and just calling you out for your bs and you know you have somebody like that that that that's willing, you know, to do that. You know you respect him in a whole different manner because it's not easy to be able to call people out and you know and do that because not only as you calling people out, you have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and be like all my ducks in order before I call

somebody else. So and even if they aren't, I still have to be able to call these people out, knowing that I might get called out back and accepting that criticism that comes with that. And so with Danny, I think, like that's what that's what me and Danny click, because we're the Spider Man thing. You know, I know everybody's been talking about that. I mean, the Spider Man mean, you know in the mirror, that's me exactly, you know

what I'm saying. So that's me and Danny. Like it's like I'm to play for one on the team and we're coming here and Danny's playful, Like Danny's always wants to put his hands on you, he wants to grab he wants to hug you, he wants to wrestle you, and You're like, Danny, come on, dude, like, nothing up. But when he comes to me, I'm all for So I'm like, you met the masterday, Danny, Like we can do this all day. So this out? Yeah, that's this I think. I think that's where that comes in with

me and Danny. That reminds me of a quote I read from you, Marcus that I thrive on contact. Contact is in my nature. I think that's relationship. It describes the way you play on the court. But how has your relationship with Brad evolved? And he talks about it now all the time, Just just how much trust there is between the two of you. Yeah, you know, everybody's

seeing me and Brad had our own court differences. We've we've had our spills on the court, We've had our spills off the court, you know, but we always come back the next day, you know, we sit down and we accepted. I think what Brad is the trust that comes. I think I'm the extended version of Brad that we don't get to see. And that's the fiery side that

we want. We don't get to see, right, But you don't get to see it exactly that you guys don't get to see that everybody collas through the thing in the locker room in the bubble. No he didn't. I'm just kidding, But I think that's what it is. Like, I'm his alter ego that everybody wants to see is Brad get a little upset, and Brad is my alter ego of where everybody comes and wants to see me. Sometimes it's just cool and just relaxed, and that's Brad. So we kind of ont to see each other out.

You know, he's a positive, I'm a negative. So we're like, we're right there, we go together. I think that's why we've been able to to kind of fit so well, because he understands and I understand like that my emotions come from a great place. It doesn't come from any malice. It comes from a place where you know, I care about my teammates, I care about my coaching staff, care

about winning, and I care about this organization. And you know, I'm willing to sacrifice not you know, everything, my body, my money for those guys. And I think that right there, you know, allows that respect and that trust to continue to grow, and that right there is a perfect way for us to end this portion of the conversation. But Marcus, before we let you go, we're gonna dive into some rapid fire questions here. Abby and I are going to

kind of go back and forth. We've got about five or ten here, so we just want quick answers on this. We're gonna start out. You're ready, ready, all right? Here they come the funniest teammate you've ever had, Jeff T. Jeff T. That is shocking to me. He's so quiet and exactly he's quiet, but when he gets around us, he's a different persons. So it's Romeo life. Those two Indiana guys, they're totally different when they're when they're comfortable.

It's a different type of people persons that you see from those guys. They're they're always cracking joke. This one might offend make some people angry, saying, causet the strife in the locker room, who's the best dressed? Probably Tristan. I might have to go with Tristan. You got that l a swag exactly, you know, but it probably might have been a lot of people like Jalen thinks you're the best dress. Biggest impact on you as a teammate. I'm gonna have to go with to Al Horford and

Asa Thomas. Your favorite pizza, I would probably have to say, but you just made a face like you don't like pizza. I'm not a big pizza thing, all right, Okay, good you pineapple on a pizza? No, no answer, That's the only right answer. Favorite moment as a Celtic I want to say was in two thousand seventeen the playoffs where we went into Cleveland, and you know I had that stellar game against Kyrie and Lebron with the seven threes to to win in and break that there, the little

streak that they had going of the wind. So I probably say that that game. What is your hidden talent? Non basketball related? We talked about how you can dunk. We know you got that. We've seen with your hidden talent. I love to dance. I could sing a little bit like I used to take quiet, so nobody really knows that. I also used to play the piano a little bit, not as much anymore. You and Walter McCarty must have had some nights together back when he was with the

Celtics Tony we used to harmonize together. Favorite robe this one might favorite robe. Favorite robe? Oh man, I'm gonna go with the Royal Blue resci. My mom loved that one, and that was kind of like our favorite that we had together is that with the gold trim with a going term all right, term there gone. So your mom liked the Ropes. She was on board of the road game. She loved him. She just loved the way they looked.

She loved that whole, that whole that they gave all the best bowler on the team because with your Young Game Changer Foundation, that is one of the big fundraisers that you do every year. Best bowler. Oh man, I don't know. And now Mookie Betts is gone from Boston, so I'm saying, so I can't. I can't. I can't say, Luke. But I don't know because I haven't really seen the New Guys Bowl. So I don't really know. Because you can't go bowling right now because we can't go bowling.

I don't know about that one. I have to I have to reevaluate the competition. What's the best podcast in the world. It's from the Raptors behind the scenes with the Boston Celtics. No, Marcus Smart, that's a rat man. We appreciate you coming on. This has been a lot of fun to really get to know what you went through as a kid that turned you into the guy that we love seeing every night out on the court. This has been a lot of fun. Thank you. Guys appreciate it. Thank you Marcus