NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 1, 2022

Marcus Smart

Boston Celtics

Media Day

Q. Marcus, early in the season you had that moment where you pushed Jaylen and Jayson to become better playmakers, and in January you had a moment where you had just gotten back from injury and telling everybody you love them. And it seems like you have these different kind of leadership tactics you've tried not only throughout this year but throughout your career. Did you have to try different things with this group to see what works and what doesn't as a leader?

MARCUS SMART: No, it's just being me. Everything, when I told those guys I love them, I meant it. We've all been through some things individually, Al, Jaylen, a couple of those guys that have been here with me. My mom passed; they flew all the way to Dallas to the funeral. That was for real. It wasn't no tactic. It was nothing. That was me being who I am, and that was true. We have a special bond outside of basketball, and you know, to be able to go to war with those guys makes that bond even stronger.

But me just being me and helping my teammates in any way I can, I know what it feels like to be going through something individually and just be keeping it in or struggling with it. So I just wanted to let them know, we can express it here. We can talk about it. Whatever we need, man. We are brothers, and that's what it is.

Whatever I can do to help my teammates, I'm going to do it. If that's talking to them, sitting down; if that's chewing them out or getting on them for something that they know we all know they should or shouldn't do, and vice versa with me. I think that's what makes our bond special.

Q. With your ankle, how much do you think it was limiting you in the last round? And when you got to spend time with Steve in China, what did you learn about him?

MARCUS SMART: The ankle, pretty serious injury. I'm thankful to be able to play, let alone still be walking. It hurt, but my mom always told me, if you are going to be on the court, you can't make excuses. If you're hurt, then sit your tail down. If I'm going to be out there, no matter how much pain I'm in, I can't let it affect me.

Steve, he's a great guy, great coach. We all know this. But to be able to experience it personally, firsthand, up front, he's a remarkable man, great guy. The way that he thinks, the way that he thinks about the game, others. I think we all saw his speech over what happened in Texas. He's very passionate, and he means that. That's from the heart, and you can't take that away.

I like that type of person. That's who I am. You know, that was a bond right there, and that's what it is. He's done a great job with these Warriors over the years, and it's going to be a fun matchup.

Q. Jaylen just said that you guys play in a city that doesn't have a lot of patience. When you guys were sort of working things out earlier this year, just against that backdrop, and there was a lot of criticism on the outside, how did you react to that when you heard a lot of that stuff?

MARCUS SMART: I've been here in this city for eight years playing for Boston, and I've heard everything. So for me it was a normal day in the office. Like J.B. said, we play for a city that's very impatient. They have every right to be. The things that they have accomplished, you know, it's kind of hard not to be impatient.

We understood it. We get it. It just helps us strive to even go out there and please that impatience that they have. It's fuel to our fire.

Q. You were just talking about the relationship with your teammates. Over the years, you've never really held back, and your play style has never really held back. What do you think you've done in both the way you lead by example and the way you communicate with others to earn that level of autonomy and respect?

MARCUS SMART: One, give respect. In order for you to get it, you have to give it. To receive respect, you've got to give it. I respect my teammates to my fullest with my play, my words, my actions, and they all know that everything I say and do is going to be honest and true and it's real. When you're a real person like that, it's kind of hard for people not to respect you and for people not to understand who you are and like you.

So my teammates get it. They know that whatever it is, it doesn't matter; if I've done something bad, wrong, they feel they can talk to me, and vice versa. If I've done something right, they are going to give me my roses and vice versa.

Q. Steve Kerr said that you're kind of like a guard version of Draymond on defense. Would you agree with that?

MARCUS SMART: I would. And that's a great comparison. It's an honor to be compared to a guy of Draymond's caliber, a champion, great leader, great defender. He does what he does very well. I like to look at myself as that way. I definitely take some notes from Draymond, the way he leads and the way that he plays the game.