Rising Stars Challenge ‘means a lot' to Smart

Share

BOSTON – A phone call from your agent is not the way most NBA players want to start their day.

More often than not, those phone calls are not all that fun or enjoyable.

But the news was good – very good – for Boston’s Marcus Smart when his agent called to inform him that he had been selected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge that involves first and second-year players.

“It means a lot,” Smart told CSNNE.com following Boston’s 111-103 win over Denver. “Last year I didn’t make the team. I figure I missed about the same amount of time last year. So it feels good.”

Actually, Smart has missed more games this season compared to last season when he missed a total of 15 games – 13 of which by this time last season.

Boston (26-21) is only six games into the official second-half of the season with Smart having already missed 21 games that left him thinking he would once again be on the outside looking in at all-star weekend.

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens was pleased to learn that Smart would be on the Rising Stars team as well.

“It’s another honor. It’s great to be part of all-star weekend,” Stevens said. “It’s a good sign when your young players are invited to do stuff like that especially when they’ve only played half a year.”

Celtics big men Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk have participated in the Rising Stars challenge previously.

A big part of Smart’s inclusion has to do with the impact he has made on the Celtics defensively this season.

Stevens has been happy with what Smart has brought to the floor thus far, but knows there are still levels of play that his second-year guard has yet to reach.

“He can play a lot better,” Stevens said. “And he’s getting better as the weeks go on.”

Stevens recalled how Smart was one of the few rookies to not just see action in the playoffs last season but do so as a starter.

“It’s hard to impact the league as a young player and if you have any impact at all, then that’s a positive sign,” Stevens said. “There’s a lot of young players that haven’t gotten their opportunity yet, that are going to have great careers and we’re all just going to have to wait and see. But to have an impact early is pretty impressive.”

For the season, Smart is averaging 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists with 1.7 steals. During Boston’s current four-game winning streak, the 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

And while those numbers may seem modest compared to some of the other participants in the Rising Stars challenge, there’s no mistaking the impact Smart has had on the Celtics who currently have the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference.

He will be among his NBA peers and there will surely be some players trying to put on a show. Smart said his focus will be no different for the Rising Stars challenge than it is for any other game.

“Just keep doing what I been doing here,” he said. “Play hard, play the right way and show why I deserve to be there.”

 

Contact Us