All Marcus Smart knew was playoff intensity in his first nine NBA seasons. Smart made the playoffs every year since getting drafted by the Celtics in 2014, so there was intimate knowledge about what the postseason is like from all angles.

Despite his long ties to the Celtics, Smart expects Boston fans to boo him when he faces the team in a Lakers uniform this season. Smart signed with one of the Celtics' biggest rivals by joining the Lakers on a two-year, $11 million deal this offseason.

Marcus Smart will be back in Boston this season, but not in the way that many Boston Celtics fans wanted. Smart is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston’s infamous rivals. How will Celtics fans greet Smart when he comes to town wearing purple and gold?

Marcus Smart didn't shy away from acknowledging the emotional weight when asked about Boston fans' reaction to his signing.

Luka Doncic reportedly helped recruit Smart to the Lakers. In addition, a clip from "The Old Man & the Three" podcast has been unearthed where Lakers coach JJ Redick had some glowing things to say about the former Defensive Player of the Year. In the clip, which is from 2020, Redick said that Smart is the type of player he would want on his team.

The Los Angeles Lakers currently have 14 players under contract and are just under the first apron threshold, where they are hard-capped, after adding Marcus Smart and waiving both Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin.