There were few surprises in store for Marcus Smart’s return to the parquet floor earlier this month.
Even though the veteran guard no longer wears a Celtics jersey, he received several cheers from the TD Garden crowd in his first career game against Boston on Dec. 7.
Smart became a cherished figure over his nine seasons with the Celtics due to his relentless effort and tenacity on the court. Despite his extended tenure with Boston, Smart was not part of the Celtics’ sought-after 18th championship in June, with the team trading him the previous offseason as part of a blockbuster deal involving Kristaps Porzingis.