In what was perhaps the most apropos revelation of an NBA end-of-season award in the history of the league’s Kia Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, Boston Celtics veteran point guard Marcus Smart was alerted to the fact he had won the NBA’s DPOY award for the 2021-22 season from the last backcourt player to win the award, all the way back in 1996.
Snapping the drought of guards taking home that particular piece of hardware, Smart was told of his winning the award by none other than Gary “The Glove” Payton, Sr. He let the Flower Mound native know how proud he was of Smart for the nearly lost art of elite guard defense that led to his being honored by the NBA.
“You play that D the way it’s supposed to (be played),” said Payton to Smart. “You play with a chip on your shoulder and a lot of heart.”
A special moment today celebrating the heart and soul of our team, @smart_MS3 ☘️ pic.twitter.com/OPcgYbMmxt
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 18, 2022
The former Oklahoma State player responded to The Glove’s short speech with one of his own, making sure to credit his teammates for helping to put him in a position to win the DPOY award in the first place.
🗣️ SPEECH pic.twitter.com/GyaxHbhf6f
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 18, 2022
Check out the clips embedded above to see Payton’s award reveal and Smart’s reply.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
