Passing through Memphis, to participate in a golf tournament, Jayson Tatum also returned to the departure of his teammate Marcus Smart this summer. Transferred at the end of June as part of the exchange between Boston, Washington and Memphis, to bring back Kristaps Porzingis at the Celtics, the new leader of the Grizzlies is already dubbed by his new teammates, in particular Jaren Jackson Jr.
Even if Jayson Tatum must be delighted to receive Porzingis’ reinforcement, he is nonetheless disappointed to see his former partner leave the green house.
“I’m sad to see him go but happy for him at the same time, to see him make a new start…”, recognizes the Celtics winger before adding that he can’t wait to see what he will bring. On this subject, the MVP of the last All-Star Game, knows what he is talking about. The trio of Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown climbed the steps of the Eastern Conference one by one, until reaching the Finals in 2022.
Marcus Smart knows the way to the NBA Finals
On the field, Smart’s leadership and his complicity with the Brown-Tatum duo were evident, and Jayson Tatum predicted a bright future for him with the Grizzlies, a young franchise that has never played in the NBA Finals.
“He knows what it takes to reach the NBA Finals” recalls Tatum. “He’s obviously an extremely talented player. The best defender in the league. He is simply the kind of player you dream of having in your team.
To compensate for the absence of Ja Morant, suspended 25 games by the NBA, Memphis has therefore opted for a complete leader and better defender, and if that is not enough, Derrick Rose has also arrived to bring all his experience.
| Marcus Smart | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2014-15 | BOS | 67 | 27 | 36.7 | 33.5 | 64.6 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 7.8 |
| 2015-16 | BOS | 61 | 27 | 34.8 | 25.3 | 77.7 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 9.2 |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 79 | 30 | 35.9 | 28.3 | 81.2 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 10.6 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 54 | 30 | 36.7 | 30.1 | 72.9 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 10.2 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 80 | 28 | 42.2 | 36.4 | 80.6 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 8.9 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 60 | 32 | 37.5 | 34.7 | 83.6 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 12.9 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 48 | 33 | 39.8 | 33.0 | 79.0 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 13.1 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 71 | 32 | 41.8 | 33.1 | 79.3 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 12.1 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 61 | 32 | 41.5 | 33.6 | 74.6 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 11.5 |
| Total | 581 | 30 | 38.6 | 32.3 | 77.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 10.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
