Celtics sign guard Marcus Smart to $77M extension
FILE — Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicansat TD Garden on March 29, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Marcus Smart has spent his entire seven-year career with the Boston Celtics, and it does not appear as if he’ll be leaving any time soon.
The Celtics signed their backcourt fixture to a four-year, $77 million extension on Monday, according to ESPN and The Athletic.
Smart seemingly confirmed the reports by tweeting a line of seven shamrocks, for his past time with the Celtics, a plus sign and a line of four more shamrocks, representing the length of the extension.
Boston teammate Jayson Tatum replied to news of Smart’s extension by tweeting, “Happy for my dawg!”
Smart already was signed for $14.3 million for the upcoming season. His extension, which will kick in starting with the 2022-23 campaign, will help Boston keep one of its key players.
The 27-year-old Smart averaged career highs of 13.1 points and 5.7 assists last season. He was named to the all-defensive first team in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
In 449 career games (228 starts), Smart has averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds. He joined the Celtics as a first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2014 draft out of Oklahoma State.
