Marcus Smart’s tenure with the Celtics came to a close this offseason following the organization’s decision to trade him to the Grizzlies as part of a three-team deal to land Kristaps Porzingis.
Prior to Smart’s exit from Boston, rumors emerged that he and star teammate Jaylen Brown didn’t see eye to eye toward the end of his time with the team.
Speaking with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe on Sunday, Smart cleared the air over the rumored beef, indicating there never was any to begin with.
“Jayson and Jaylen are my brothers for life. My mom passed away, JB was actually one of the people on that plane that came to Dallas to the funeral. I just want to shut all rumors now that me and JB had beef. I have no beef with anybody with the Celtics,” Smart told Washburn.
It was reported by The Athletic that Brown and Smart had a “heated confrontation” following Boston’s loss to the Heat in Game 2 of this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, during which objects were reportedly thrown around inside the locker room.
Despite those reports, Smart indicated that he and Brown remain close friends.
As for the Celtics organization, Smart has no hard feelings over the trade, despite reportedly being told by the franchise that he was “safe” in trade talks just a week earlier.”
“I love this team; I love this organization; I love the people, the fans, everybody, the support I’ve have always gotten for my nine years,” said Smart.
Prior to the trade, the 29-year-old had played his entire career with the Celtics, who drafted him with the No. 6 pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
