It’s hard being first, whether it’s breaking down long-standing barriers or changing public perception. Believe me, I know. As a UK-based basketball writer/analyst trying to navigate a way to the US, I’ve witnessed and experienced the difficulties, the perceptions, and the roadblocks firsthand.
Those struggles pale in comparison to what Marcus Smart is currently battling with Smart trying to lay foundations for future generations. Sure, if Smart wins the Defensive Player of the Year award this year, he won’t be the first guard to do so. But he will be the first guard to win the award during the internet era and the 24-hour news cycle version of the NBA, where the media build and crush narratives at their own behest.