NBA Draft
Boston Celtics Select Marcus Smart at No. 6
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Boston Celtics selected Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart with the sixth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. After questions as to whether or not the team would keep the pick or bundle it in a trade, they added another piece to their backcourt.
Smart averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals last season as a sophomore. Even though he is only 20, he measures in at 6-3, 227 pounds with an NBA-ready physique. He can run the floor while attacking the rim, giving the Celtics another guard who affects both ends of the court.
Offensively Smart will have to improve his shooting (42.2 percent FG), but it’s not the first time the Celtics have worked with a guard in that area.
“I’ve been working on my shot a little bit more to become a more consistent shooter during my sophomore season and the summertime,” he said. “I bring that competitive nature that Boston already has, that toughness they already have. I just continue to bring it and keep that fire going.”
Wait, what about Rajon Rondo? Brad Stevens can get creative with these two guards and play them together, it doesn’t have to be one or another. Plus given the contract situations of Rondo and Avery Bradley, the Celtics made an addition for their future.
“Rondo is a wonderful point guard, a wonderful player,” said Smart. “He reminds me a little bit of me. He plays defense, he’s long, his wing span, and he has big hands. Just being able to learn from a guy who’s been in the league and been in my seat and my situation, it’s an amazing feeling and a great opportunity.”
Smart had “a lot of time” talking with Stevens and is looking forward to learning more from the coach. He also is excited about playing for a team deep with such deep history. The Celtics played a video about the franchise in the locker room following pre-draft workouts.
“It was talking about the history and the guys that’ve been through there and the work, the blood, the sweat, and they tears they put into that program,” said Smart.
Sounds like he already has a good idea of what will be expected from him as he begins his NBA career.
