Marcus Smart on title aspirations, brotherhood with Celtics teammates, being called ‘Unc’ in DC — and more

BOSTON — When Marcus Good involves Boston, he doesn’t schedule a bunch of reunions or attempt to cram in visits to all of his favourite spots from his 9 years in Boston.

“I form of simply attempt to conceal,” he stated, surrounded by greater than a dozen Boston reporters in entrance of his TD Backyard locker room. “As a result of it’s an excessive amount of. It’s overwhelming. I don’t need to disappoint anybody.”

Hours earlier than Sunday’s Celtics recreation towards the Wizards, tons of of Celtics followers surrounded the gamers’ tunnel in hopes of getting an opportunity to say whats up to Good, who has been again at TD Backyard twice for the reason that commerce that introduced Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics in the summertime of 2023.

“He’s the GOAT!” bellowed one child.

“I want they gave him a hoop,” stated one other. “He deserved it.”

And of the commerce itself?

“It broke my coronary heart,” resoundingly acknowledged a 3rd — clarifying the 2024 championship meant every part, however noting that Good not being part of it was nonetheless painful.

Marcus Good didn’t come out for warm-ups at TD Backyard on Sunday.

And, he by no means checked into the sport, with Wizards coach Brian Keefe later explaining that was merely a results of the staff making an attempt out totally different mixtures within the dwelling stretch of the season to determine who would possibly play effectively with who.

Nonetheless, his sheer presence on the sidelines made Sunday evening’s in any other case uneventful Celtics-Wizards recreation really feel just a bit bit extra significant.

Within the waning moments, “We Need Marcus” chants inundated TD Backyard. And, after the ultimate buzzer sounded, Good embraced a number of of his former teammates at centercourt, like Al Horford, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White, earlier than chatting particularly lengthy with good buddy Jaylen Brown. He dapped up the Celtics’ ball boys and longtime public relations workers, caught up with enviornment ushers he’s lengthy recognized, even embraced Fortunate the Leprechaun and Celtics proprietor Wyc Grousbeck.

“It positively brings again recollections,” Good stated of the chants. “I do know my spouse was over there making an attempt to not cry.”

Good has solely suited up as soon as at TD Backyard since being traded from the Celtics, and he struggled mightily in that December Grizzlies-Celtics matchup, scoring simply 3 factors on 1 of 11 taking pictures.

This time, he simply soaked all of it in from the bench.

“You at all times need to play,” he stated. “However on the similar time, it’s good to only take all of the love in and never must be on the market to give attention to the sport.”

After the sport, Good frolicked within the Celtics locker room for about 20 minutes, catching up together with his previous buddies. Six of the present Celtics have been on the 2022-23 staff he was final part of — and Good stated he’s saved in a lot better contact together with his longtime buddies than folks would count on.

“I grew up with these guys,” Good stated. “I went by means of lots of battles — blood, sweat, and tears. All people is aware of, a couple of of these guys got here to my mother’s funeral. It’s a deeper bond than simply basketball.”

Marcus Good’s tenure in Memphis by no means panned out because the Grizzlies hoped. He handled a myriad of accidents, suiting up for simply 39 video games throughout the season and a half he spent in Tennessee. And he struggled on the ground; earlier than his commerce, the 31-year-old averaged 8.7 factors per recreation on 35.8% taking pictures this season.

The commerce deadline day transfer to a rebuilding Wizards staff caught him off guard, Good stated, however he’s maintained a stage of perspective and gratitude by means of all of it.

“God — he doesn’t make any errors,” Good stated. “So initially, I thank Him daily. I’m in a position to come out right here and play the sport I really like, and likewise handle my household whereas doing it, so to be on that courtroom, I believe I’m proper the place I’m speculated to be.”

Good and his spouse had a child boy, Zayn, just some months after he was traded to Memphis. The expertise of changing into a father has allowed him to remain calm by means of the adversity, whether or not that’s the myriad of accidents he’s needed to handle, or anything.

“Having a child has additionally introduced gentle to my eyes,” he stated. “I’m not freaking out as a lot, I’m not exerting as a lot power into these issues. I’m simply form of letting every part occur the best way it’s speculated to.”

Marcus Good finds himself in a mentorship position in Washington — however nonetheless needs to in the end compete for a championship

For the primary time in a very long time, Good is a part of a staff that isn’t competing for playoff positioning or an opportunity at a title.

The Wizards are headlined by younger expertise like Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George — and are at the moment headed towards the Draft Lottery as soon as once more.

Good has embraced that mentorship position.

“He’s been terrific,” Keefe stated. “Clearly, thrilled to have him on our staff, as you guys know on this city what he meant to town of Boston. However an incredible chief, large participant — simply the data he has of the sport and the expertise he’s constructed to go onto our guys, he’s been terrific.”

Marcus Good is simply 31 years previous, however on a roster that features 10 gamers who’re 23 or youthful, that’s previous.

“They name me Unc, and issues like that,” Good stated, laughing. “I ain’t prepared for that.”

However, in addition to the jokes, his presence has benefitted the Wizards’ children.

“They’ve gravitated towards him, and he’s gravitated towards them,” Keefe stated. “He got here to play, and he’s proven what he’s able to. The experiences he’s had and the conditions he’s been in, to share that data, I’d say all of our guys have benefited from that.”

The surprising season of mentorship has validated Good’s physique of labor within the NBA.

“It’s an important match group of younger guys right here,” Good stated. “The factor I really like about them is that they’re able to study, and so they’re keen to study. They’re continuously asking questions, they’re continuously asking me to show issues or find out how to do issues. That’s what you ask for — as a competitor, as a participant your self, when guys come as much as you, then that’s an important feeling. It lets you see that what you’re doing and the impression that you’ve made hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Good nonetheless needs that elusive NBA title, the identical one his previous buddies dropped at Boston final June. And, he’s not near being able to fade into the abyss and journey out the remainder of his profession as a mentor on the sidelines.

However he’s going to let every part come to him, slightly than fear about what his subsequent vacation spot and position will probably be.

“I’m one of many most likely largest rivals on this league,” Good stated. “So long as I’m in a position to be on the market, I need to be on the market, and I’m going to be on the market. The place, when, how — that’s not in my management. All I can do is management is my preparation, to be ready for no matter is thrown at me.”