Ever since the Boston Celtics traded away Marcus Smart, rumors have begun to swirl regarding his relationship with Jaylen Brown. Celtics fans speculated across social media that the two may have been feuding, due to the lack of comment on Brown’s end, following the news of Smart’s departure.
Reporters had the chance to catch up with Boston’s former starting point guard on Sunday at The 14 League at Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Smart made a point to address the rumors about his relationship with Brown, clearing the air on any potential beef.
“Jayson and Jaylen are my brothers for life, and I don’t think what the people see is enough of what and how our relationship really is,” Smart said, per CLNS Media. “We’ve been through a lot together, we’ve been through the fire. My mom passed away and J.B. was actually one of people on that plane that came to Dallas to the funeral. So I just want to shut all the rumors down now that me and J.B. had beef. I have no beef with anybody with the Celtics, none of my teammates, I love those guys, they love me. We’re brothers and I know that if I’m ever in need, or need or what anything, I can call those guys and it’s vice-versa, but me and J.B., we’re great, that’s my brother. He actually texted me and was just as disappointed as I was. So we’re good and just because J.B. or any of my teammates didn’t post anything, doesn’t mean we have beef.”
Marcus Smart details finding out about being traded by the Boston Celtics
Of course, another major talking point of Smart’s chat with the media was his initial reaction to the news that he’d be playing basketball for the Memphis Grizzlies next season.
He revealed that he’d been informed a week prior that the team wasn’t planning on trading him.
“It was definitely shocking to find out that way, especially because the week before, I was already told we were good, there were no trade talks with me and we were good,” he explained. “I understand the business side of it, I’ve always been like that. I’m the first one to tell anyone, you can’t mix personal with business, it just doesn’t mix. I understand it’s a business. For me, it’s just the courtesy. They probably already knew they were thinking about trading me, they had this trade in their back pocket just in case something else didn’t happen.”
Smart’s nine years with the Boston Celtics were the most of any player on last season’s roster. Oddly enough, the man with the most seniority now is Brown — who we now know is good with Smart.