BOSTON – A massive weight was lifted off Marcus Smart’s shoulders Thursday afternoon as he penned a brand-new contract with the Boston Celtics. The 18 days spent as a restricted free agent was a difficult period of time for the fifth-year point guard, and not just because his NBA future was hanging in the balance.
Smart had to juggle his restricted free agency with caring for his mother Camellia Smart, who is currently battling bone marrow cancer. As a family-first man, Smart placed most of his attention on the latter.
“When you go through adversity with something like this in your family, it puts things in perspective,” Smart reflected Friday afternoon during a conference call with the media.