Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks get into an altercation as they both fall to the floor during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on March 11, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. After a video review, Young was issued a technical foul and Smart was issued a technical foul and ejected from the game. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
The NBA slapped reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart on Monday with a $25,000 fine for an on-court altercation.
The Boston Celtics player was ejected from a game on Saturday when he got into a tussle with Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young.
The league said in a news release that Smart initiated the altercation and pulled “Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young to the floor.”
Marcus Smart and Trae Young got into it during Celtics-Hawks 👀 pic.twitter.com/Dz1qOBFRdr
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 12, 2023
Both players were handed a technical foul and ejected for the incident, which took place in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 134-125 victory in Atlanta.
Point guard Smart was instrumental in the Celtics’ run to the NBA Finals last season and is averaging 11.4 points and 6.5 assists in 51 games this season.