Exclusive: Marcus Smart on Memphis Grizzlies Opportunity, Guarding Dallas Mavs' Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving

MEMPHIS — After playing the first nine years of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, Dallas-Fort Worth native and Edward S. Marcus High School alum Marcus Smart is embracing his new opportunity with the Memphis Grizzlies. 

"I'm loving everything about the Grizzlies, everything that they stand for," Smart told DallasBasketball.com before Monday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. "The organization, the players, everybody's been very accommodating. Everybody's been very energetic and eager to learn and eager to get better."

While Smart has been on teams that have experienced roster turnover during his time with the Celtics, the offseason trade he was involved in marked the first time he's had to adjust to an entirely new organization. He conveyed the importance of comfortability and learning each other's tendencies to achieve success. 

"Just to, first off, get the comfortability with guys, got to get used to playing with me, and I got to get used to playing with guys, finding guys' tendencies and stuff like that," Smart said. "Once that happens, the bigger things kind of fall in place, but get those basics down and really just continue to bring that energy that I've always had throughout my career."

Compared to his role with the Celtics, Smart takes on more responsibility as an initiator and scorer with the Grizzlies. Memphis has needed all the more from him with Ja Morant sidelined due to suspension to begin the season, too. It's a role Smart feels he's prepared for his whole life to handle, averaging 17.1 points and 5.8 assists in four games.

"For me, it's been fun," Smart said. "I've been preparing for my whole life. In my stint with the Celtics, I was a playmaker, but definitely here, it's a lot more responsibility.I'm able to do a lot more, which is just as good. It opens the door for me to create even more opportunities for my teammates and just being here, with these guys who love to get out and run, they love to learn, and they're eager to win."

Smart, named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, is now paired with the reigning honor recipient: Jaren Jackson Jr. It's rare for two tantalizing defensive talents to be on the same unit in their primes. Smart sees major potential for the Grizzlies' defense as a whole.

"Just the ability to protect our team, both on the perimeter and the paint and the energy that we can bring," Smart said. The defensive stipulations we can put on each other where we can do certain things and certain coverages because we have certain guys."

When focusing the conversation on the Mavs, what stands out when facing them is the threat of having to contain both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — two of the NBA's elite isolation and pick-and-roll threats. 

"Double. That's it. It's not one guy, it's two, so you have to be on your toes because at any given time, one of those guys could just break a play down and get theirs and find for others," Smart said. "It's a little bit easier with one where you always know where the one at, but when there's two, they're moving around, you can kind of get lost. You just got to be focused."

When having to guard Doncic, as Smart did on Monday night when he finished with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists, there is a lot to consider as the on-ball defender. At 6-foot-7, with a big frame and skill to make a tough shot from all ranges, being an elite passer, and having great deceleration for finishing footwork, it's a challenge for a defender to handle him. 

"One, he's really good. We all know it at getting where he wants to get when he wants to get there by any means necessary," Smart said of Doncic. "Then also his shot ability to be able to create his own shot and make tough shots makes it tough. You gotta respect it. He uses his body and his footwork very well."

Irving is known for his crafty handle, tough shot-making, and general ability to win the chess match against the defender attempting to contain him. Smart admires the incredible skills Irving displays as a creative offensive threat, describing him as a "magician" with the basketball. 

"Kyrie is Kyrie, man. Uncle Drew, he's a magician with the ball," Smart said of Irving. "His ability to do the things he does with the ball is incredible. He creates space with that ball, and he can manipulate defenses with the ball in his hands and the dribbling he can do. And then on top of him being able to make those tough shots as well."

With Doncic and Irving, Smart stressed the importance of not getting frustrated with the result as long as the process is correct. There will be times when either one of them faces a quality approach from the defender but still ends up converting a tough shot, just as Doncic frequently did on Monday night. 

"You have to just make it as hard as you can for him and not really get upset because they're gonna make some tough shots, and that's okay," Smart said of Irving and Doncic. "You can't let it get the best of you, for sure."

Irving and Smart played 119 games together as members of the Boston Celtics from 2017 to 2019. When reflecting on what he enjoyed most about his time as Irving's teammate, Smart highlighted the incredible basketball knowledge Irving displays when directing rival teams and players to create advantages, whether on specific plays or based on matchups. 

"I would have to say my favorite part about being Kyrie's teammate is his ability to see the game and just learning from him," Smart said of Irving. "The things he sees on the court, both offensively and when he's going against defenses. Just picking his brain with certain plays, certain matchups, how to get his shot in certain areas and just how he can lock in and go out every night and play consistently."

The Grizzlies have struggled to achieve wins while Morant and many other key players have been sidelined, but Smart will play an important role in the fabric of their team.