Marcus Smart Poised for Breakout Season

Rookie campaigns ultimately do not determine the overall future of an NBA player. In a few cases, players are thrown right into the NBA’s proverbial fire, and they either sink (Kwame Brown), swim (Andrew Wiggins), or they surf (LeBron James). These cases are usually reserved for top overall selections, which all of the three players mentioned above were. More commonly, you will see players accumulate a low usage rate in their rookie campaign, and they are used as a complimentary piece with only a few sets specifically designed for them.

Marcus Smart fits exactly into that common category, and I believe Brad Stevens has used him to perfection in his first season. Marcus Smart is a player who affects the game in a multitude of ways. After he battled through a few early injuries last season, he was able to average just around 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game.

The league has superstars that dominate the scoring column, the assist totals, and the rebound leaderboards respectively, but as a multi-purpose guard playing alongside another point guard, Marcus Smart can make a jump this season into the Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns) category. Hopefully from there he can extend upwards to a freakishly athletic Russell Westbrook type.

Apr 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) controls the ball during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Now, statistics aside, this column was inspired by Marcus’ intangibles, and how he came out of the gate in the early summer league games before his minor injury kept him sidelined. Marcus was tagged a “leader” and a player with an “edge” in his days with Oklahoma State. He was must-watch television and was like a varsity player playing alongside JV guys at certain points. He drew comparisons to Dwyane Wade in his Marquette days the way he demanded the ball and was not afraid to take the big shot.

When he took the court for the NBA summer league this season, he immediately was attacking the hole with a hunger and a healthiness we hadn’t seen in Boston Celtics green. He had obviously worked on his outside shooting and decision making when driving, as evident by his first quarter of action. He finished that game with 26 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. That statline as a AVERAGE for a season is probably (definitely) unattainable for a 21 year old coming off an injury, but I think Marcus’ ceiling for this upcoming season can be 16 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds. This would put him in an elite category of all around point guards, and keep him in line with some of the league’s best, regardless of age.

Keep an eye on Marcus in the first 3 games of this season. If he is used in more sets, and is willing to take the burden of an NBA offense, you could see a huge breakout season for both him and the team. There is a reason Marcus Smart can become the player who sits as a cornerstone of the NBA’s greatest franchise, and its all going to begin this season.

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