"Savage": NBA fans in splits after Twitter post thanking Marcus Smart for Celtics 18th championship goes viral

Marcus Smart was once regarded as the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics before being traded last year to get Kristaps Porzingis. A former Defensive Player of the Year and fan favorite, Smart’s hustle is well-remembered by Celtics fans.

Smart was among the players who got traded from the Celtics to build the championship team they currently enjoy. Among them are other beloved former Celtics such as Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and Grant Williams.

After the Celtics won their 18th NBA championship, a Twitter post looked back at Marcus Smart’s time in Boston, giving tribute to the now-Memphis Grizzlies guard as they acknowledged that this would never have happened without him.

NBA fans, however, were split in their opinions about Smart as they reacted to the post with varying opinions about the former Celtics star. Some credited Smart for keeping his value high to allow the team to snag Porzingis, who was a crucial component of their title run.

“Most definitely, complained his way into a DPOY which allow Stevens to get a bigger haul from him,” said one fan.

“It’s a shame he did not complete the journey with these guys. But you never know the piece of the puzzle that makes the difference,” said another fan.

“Give him his ring,” another fan suggested.

In contrast, some fans roasted Smart for not winning a championship with Celtics, pointing out he made the championship possible by leaving the team.

“Was only possible without him 😂,” one fan said.

“What type of backhanded post is this,” said one fan.

“Savage,” one fan said.

The Celtics drafted Smart sixth overall in 2014. He played 581 games for the team and averaged 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game across nine years.

Marcus Smart felt double-crossed after trade from Boston Celtics

The Marcus Smart trade came as a shock for fans and for the player, expressing that he felt double-crossed by how the team handled his shipment to the Grizzlies:

"But it was just the way it happened. I was told everything was good after asking multiple times," Smart said in an interview with The Athletic in October last year. "Like I'm hearing (rumors), what's going on?

"And they're like, 'No you're good, you're good, you're good.' And then when I do hear about the trade, it's from Shams on Twitter before I hear from the team."

Nevertheless, Marcus Smart had his fresh start with the Grizzlies before suffering a finger injury in January, holding him to just 20 games this season.

Smart is expected to make a full recovery next season and should be a crucial part of Memphis’ core that includes rising star Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.