Marcus Smart's impact doesn't always show up in the box score.
But one of the NBA's all-time greats wants to make sure he's appreciated.
Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton interviewed Smart on Yahoo Sports' "The Bounce" following the Boston Celtics' 113-101 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday, and wrapped things up by paying Smart the ultimate compliment.
"Young fella, I love you," Payton told Smart. "You play both ends of the floor, man. You remind me of myself a lot, man."
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That's high praise from Payton, a nine-time All-Star and nine-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team who is the last guard to win Defensive Player of the Year (1996).
Smart doesn't exactly have Payton's scoring prowess, but the 25-year-old rivals "The Glove" in defensive tenacity and could make a run for DPOY this season if he keeps making plays like this:
Payton also believes Smart, the Celtics' longest-tenured player, can be a more outspoken leader in Boston's locker room.
"You've got to be that dude on the vocal side," Payton said. "You go and take over. You go and be the one to take over and say, 'I'm going to get everybody motivated every time.' Because you've got it in you, you've got the dog in you, you'll get them over the top."
In case Smart needs any more motivation, a pep talk from one the greatest two-way players in NBA history should do the trick.
Don't miss NBC Sports Boston's coverage of Pistons-Celtics, which tips off Wednesday at 6 p.m. with Celtics Pregame Live, and then Mike and Scal have the call at 7 p.m. You can also stream the game on the MyTeams App.