“I’m still calling Brad (Stevens), ‘Coach,’” Smart said. “I don’t think that’s ever going to get old. But it’s just a different feel.”
A much different feel. After a long stretch of management stability, at least by NBA standards, the Celtics went through a significant offseason makeover. Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations for 18 years, retired from the role one day after the team dropped a first-round series to Brooklyn. In a simultaneous move, Stevens ended an eight-year run as head coach by stepping into Ainge’s position. A few weeks later, Stevens hired his own replacement in Ime Udoka.
As Boston’s longest-tenured player, Smart possesses a unique perspective of the team’s major transformation. Following the Celtics’ first practice Tuesday, he opened up to The Athletic about the busy offseason. Smart shared why he suspected a coaching change could be coming, why he’s excited about a new role as point guard and why he considered turning down the Celtics’ contract extension offer this summer.
Not surprised by the end of Stevens’s coaching tenure
The entirety of Boston’s management shakeup arrived as a shock to most observers, but Smart said he sensed the end of Stevens’ coaching tenure approaching. Especially after the 2019-20 season, Smart said he could see the burden of the job impacting Stevens.
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Marcus Smart 1-on-1: Celtics star opens up on new point guard role, almost declining contract extension and more - The Athletic
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