Speaking to the media ahead of Friday's Game 3 against the Nets, Celtics guard Marcus Smart echoed recent remarks by former teammate Kyrie Irving about hearing racist comments from fans at Boston home games.
Irving played for the Celtics from 2017-19, and said Wednesday he hopes Boston fans will keep their comments "strictly basketball" on Friday, adding that he hoped not to hear "subtle racism and people yelling s--- from the crowd," per Boston.com's Tom Westerholm.
On Thursday, Smart backed up Irving's concerns, saying that he's heard fans yell racist slurs in the past.
“I’ve heard a couple of them," Smart said, according to Jay King of The Athletic.