Marcus Smart has been one of the top defensive guards in the NBA for a couple of seasons now, but he failed to receive that recognition on a league-wide level prior to the 2018-19 regular season. Part of that has been a matter of circumstance. All-Defensive team players are generally always starters and that’s something that Smart had not been prior to this regular season due to the presence of Isaiah Thomas, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving and Avery Bradley.
However, the point guard was inserted into the starting five one month into the regular season in 2018-19 and held onto the spot for the remainder of the year while putting together the best season of his career. On Wednesday, he was rewarded for that performance with a selection to the NBA All-Defensive first team.
Smart led all guards with 63 first-place votes while also earning 19 second-place nods among 100 NBA writers. He was joined on the first team by Eric Bledsoe, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert. It was the first defensive team selection for both Smart and Bledsoe and the first time a Celtic made first-team All-Defense since Avery Bradley in 2016.
Smart finished his season with a career-high 1.8 steals per game which ranked sixth overall in the NBA. He was a constant bright spot during a disappointing season for the Celtics in the first year of a four-year contract.
Love this and am honored and appreciate all the love and votes. Thank you!
I want a banner though. Offseason is a myth. Let’s get it! ?☘️ pic.twitter.com/uSCIVdsHYE
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) May 22, 2019
NBA announces All-Defensive teams: pic.twitter.com/BzLEVy3fcy
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) May 22, 2019