Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart

30-Year-Old GuardG
Memphis Grizzlies
Out
Injury Ankle
Est. Return 11/10/2024
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Smart's first season in Memphis was one to forget, playing just 20 games due to ankle and finger injuries. When healthy, Smart was on brand, averaging 14.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.1 three-pointers on 43.0 percent shooting. However, it should be noted that the small uptick in offensive production came when Ja Morant was sidelined, something that Memphis will be trying to avoid this season. Assuming the Grizzlies are healthy to start the season, Smart should still be able to log starter's minutes on most nights, despite the fact he may come off the bench. His scoring will once again take a backseat to his defensive output, something that doesn't always translate to fantasy value. He is who he is at this point, an inefficient, low-volume scorer who offers elite defensive numbers and moderate upside in both assists and threes. Smart remains a viable asset in the latter half of drafts, providing value anywhere after pick 90. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Current Season
From Preseason
#138
ADP
$Signed a four-year, $76.49 million contract extension with the Celtics in August of 2021. Traded to the Grizzlies in June of 2023.
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary

Marcus Smart was born March 6, 1994 in Flower Mound, Texas, and is the youngest of four sons of Camellia Smart and Billy Frank Smart. Smart played competitive football until the sixth grade and enjoys playing tennis. During his college days at Oklahoma State, he was also a member of the 2014 USA Select Team that practiced against Team USA in preparation for the 2014 FIBA World Championship. Smart was also a member of the U19 Team USA squad that won the gold medal during the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships. During his professional career, Smart founded the YounGameChanger Foundation to, in the words of the foundation, "provide families with seriously and chronically ill children with encouragement and life-changing experiences and to be a voice of motivation, empowerment and encouragement to inner city young athletes to be game changers off the court or field." Learn more about the foundation and Smart's annual Bowling Bash at marcussmart.org. Follow Smart on Twitter @smart_MS3, on Instagram @youngamechanger and on Facebook @MarcusSmartOfficial. For two seasons, Marcus Smart was a fierce leader for Oklahoma State University. During his freshman year (2012-13) he earned a slew of awards. Smart received the Itegris Wayman Tisdale Award, presented by the USBWA to the nation's top freshman. He was named a Second Team All-American, Sporting News' National Freshman of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year among many other accolades. His 99 steals tied the OSU single-season record. Overall, Smart delivered 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals across 34 minutes per game. He would deliver similar stats his sophomore season -- 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals in 32.7 minutes per game. He was named to both the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team. During both of Smart's seasons at OSU, the Cowboys would qualify for the NCAA Tournament and lose in the second round.

Considered week-to-week
GMemphis Grizzlies
Ankle
November 1, 2024
Smart, who has been ruled out of Saturday's game versus the 76ers, sustained a right ankle sprain in the first quarter of Wednesday's matchup against the Nets and will be considered week-to-week.
ANALYSIS
The shorthanded Grizzlies' backcourt will be without Desmond Bane (oblique) and Smart on a week-to-week basis. Smart and Bane are also expected to join Cam Spencer (ankle) and Vince Williams (lower leg) on the sideline for an extended period of time. In a depleted backcourt, Scotty Pippen, Jaylen Wells and Yuki Kawamura are all candidates for an increased role.
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Stat Review
How does Marcus Smart compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
  • True Shooting %
    An advanced statistic that measures a player's efficiency at shooting the ball that takes field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three point percentage into account.
  • Effective Field Goal %
    A statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points while field goals only count for two points.
  • 3-Point Attempt Rate
    Percentage of field goal attempts from three point range.
  • Free Throw Rate
    Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
  • Offensive Rebound %
    An estimate of the percentage of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
  • Defensive Rebound %
    An estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
  • Total Rebound %
    An estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
  • Assist %
    An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while they were on the floor.
  • Steal %
    An estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.
  • Block %
    An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while they were on the floor.
  • Turnover %
    An estimate of turnovers committed per 100 plays.
  • Usage %
    An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor.
  • Fantasy Points Per Game
    NBA Fantasy Points Per Game.
  • Fantasy Points Per Minute
    NBA Fantasy Points Per Minute.
True Shooting %
36.0%
 
Effective Field Goal %
27.9%
 
3-Point Attempt Rate
52.9%
 
Free Throw Rate
32.4%
 
Offensive Rebound %
5.6%
 
Defensive Rebound %
6.1%
 
Total Rebound %
5.8%
 
Assist %
17.0%
 
Steal %
2.5%
 
Block %
3.0%
 
Turnover %
11.6%
 
Usage %
18.3%
 
Fantasy Points Per Game
16.4
 
Fantasy Points Per Minute
0.8
 
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Our historical fantasy ratings are standard scores calculated using 8-Category settings with 12 teams and 13 players per team.
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Average Fantasy Points
Average Fantasy Points are determined when Marcus Smart was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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2015
2014
Coming off his worst season since 2017-18, Smart finds himself in Memphis following nine seasons in Boston. Traded as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal, the move could work in Smart's favor, allowing him to potentially serve as the leader in the locker room. Ja Morant will miss the first 25 games of the season due to his suspension, meaning Smart will be called upon to handle the ball a lot out of the gate. Smart recorded a career-high 6.3 assists per game during the 2022-23 season, adding 11.5 points and 1.5 steals. It was on the defensive end where he scaled back, ending with fewer than 1.7 steals per game for just the second time in the past five years. While Memphis is not the same "Grit and Grind" team they were five years ago, they will still be looking for Smart to bring a tough-minded approach, focused on disrupting the opposition. With Dillon Brooks now in Houston, it's fair to say they have lost some of their defensive identity, which Smart should rectify. Prior to last season, Smart had been a consistent top-90 asset, with his best season coming in 2019-20, when he finished as the 61st-ranked player. That season, he averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals. With that in mind, managers could consider Smart a relatively safe target anywhere after the seventh round.
The 2021-22 season marked the first year Boston let Smart be its primary point guard. For the most part, the results were positive. Smart won Defensive Player of the Year, dished a career-high 5.9 assists per game and helped the C's reach the NBA Finals. But when the season ended, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens admitted the team needed more playmaking. Stevens then traded for veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon, who also averaged 5.9 dimes per contest last year. Brogdon is expected to play a sixth-man role, backing up Smart and Jaylen Brown. With Brogdon, plus a full season of Derrick White, Boston is deeper in the backcourt than they have been recently. Smart might finally be able to play fewer than 32 minutes per game -- something that hasn't happened since 2018-19. It should also be noted that the veteran guard has improved his shooting from "worrisome" to "almost adequate". Last season, Smart shot better than 41 percent from the field, something he's only done twice in his eight-year career. That shooting is much tolerable when one remembers the DPOY can guard positions one through four, snag 1.7 steals and hit 1.7 triples per game. Look for Smart to continue as Boston's primary point guard while deferring to stars Brown and Jayson Tatum on the offensive end.
The departure of Kemba Walker appeared to alter Marcus Smart's role with Boston, but then the C's added Dennis Schroder late in free agency. Now, heading into his eighth NBA season, Smart's role for 2021-22 is unclear. Will he slide over to become Boston's new starting point guard? Or will Schroder start at the point, allowing Smart to stay in his starting-wing-reserve-point-guard hybrid role which he has embraced the last few seasons? The latter situation seems more likely, though Smart is coming off a 2020-21 season in which he dished a career-high and team-best 5.7 assists per game. Smart as starting PG assumes Schroder returns to his off-the-bench, instant-offense role he had with OKC in 2019-20. Surprise sophomore point guard Payton Pritchard will also be part of the backcourt mix. The defensive-minded Smart has averaged 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks per game over his past three seasons. He's the undisputed defensive leader for the C's and happy to guard bigger wings regardless of his offensive assignment. Smart's negatives include poor outside shooting and nagging injuries. Last season, he missed 19 games in February and March due to a calf injury and shot only 39.8 percent from the field. Overall, Smart seems likely to replicate his 2020-21 numbers in which he delivered career-highs in points (13.1) and assists, but struggled with his shot.
Smart improved across the board in 2019-20, posting career highs in points, assists, three-pointers and blocks per game. Expect that trend to continue with Gordon Hayward leaving for Charlotte. Hayward's departure leaves the door wide open for Smart to be a regular starter for Boston -- a role he filled during Hayward's various past injuries. Unfortunately, many of Smart's best attributes don't aid fantasy managers. Smart can defend positions one through four and is the emotional leader of the squad. Alas, none of that helps with his shooting woes. Smart shot 37.5 percent from the field in 2019-20. On the positive, Smart shot a career-best 83.6 percent from the charity stripe and drained 2.3 triples per game over a career-best 32.0 minutes per contest. The minutes will again be there for Boston's best defender, and it's not out of the question Smart returns to the 42.2 percent shooting accuracy he displayed in 2018-19. Combine improved shooting with two-plus steals-and-blocks per game, and Smart will be a late-round steal.
Smart comes into the new season with more clarity in the Celtics' backcourt than he's had in three seasons. With Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier no longer on the roster, Smart has a strong opportunity to start at the two-guard next to Kemba Walker. Known for his nagging defense, Smart recorded a career-high 2.0 combined blocks/steals per game in 2018-19 and finished third in the NBA in total steals en route to his first All-Defensive Team selection. He's recorded at least 1.7 combined blocks/steals in all five seasons in his career, and it's fair to expect that level of production to continue in 2019-20. Though Smart produced a four-year low in points (8.9), he improved his efficiency tremendously with career highs in field goal percentage (42.2) and three-point percentage (36.4). Smart has also averaged 3.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds in his career, and those numbers could see a bump in 2019-20 without Irving and Rozier. The defensive production should remain elite this season, but Smart's true value lies in his ability to continue improving his shooting.
After a lengthy restricted free agency stand-off, Smart and his feisty defense are staying in Boston. The versatile defender signed a four-year contract in July to stay with the team that drafted him sixth overall back in 2014. While Boston retained its most versatile defender, Smart's return further complicates what was already going to be a logjam in the backcourt and on the wing. Smart can play the point, shooting guard or small forward, but opportunities at all three positions will be hotly contested. At point guard, Boston expects a full -season out of Kyrie Irving, after losing him in March to a knee injury. While Irving was out, Terry Rozier, who's set to hit free agency next summer, proved worthy of starter's minutes. Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum will each command significant roles on the wing, so it seems inevitable that Smart’s minutes will take a bit of a dip in 2018-19. The hope is that Smart will finally demonstrate some meaningful improvement as a jump-shooter, though at this point that may be wishful thinking. The four-year veteran is shooting 36 percent from the field for his career, with few indications of improvement. Poor shooting aside, Smart led Boston in steals per game last season, as well as assists per minute.
Over Smart’s first three years in the Association, no one has ever questioned his defensive ferocity. The problem is his shooting. It was assumed that Smart would improve from the 37 percent effort that occurred his rookie season. Unfortunately, Smart’s shooting has actually gotten worse. After struggling to shoot 35 percent during his sophomore season, Smart posted a meager 36 percent in 2016-17. Still, Coach Brad Stevens continued to stress Smart’s game changing defensive plays, increasing his floor time to 30.0 minutes per game in 2016-17. The guard’s 4.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 threes made per game (last year’s stats) certainly make his poor shooting more tolerable. And with Avery Bradley now in Detroit, Smart has the opportunity to battle Jaylen Brown for the starting shooting guard spot. Smart currently sits atop the shooting guard depth chart due to seniority, but much can change throughout the preseason. Coach Stevens likes going small with Smart off the bench, asking Smart to shut down opposing small forwards. Stevens would lose that defensive bench flexibility with Smart in the starting lineup. With Jae Crowder now in Cleveland, expect Smart’s defensive shutdown assignments to increase. Either as a starter or sixth man, expect Smart’s minutes to stay the course. And expect similar shooting woes, too.
After an up-and-down rookie season, Smart followed up with much of the same in 2015-16. The former lottery pick struggled mightily as a shooter, converting just 34.8 percent of his attempts from the field and a horrific 25.3 percent from three-point land. Even so, his tenacious defense and relentless attacking ability kept him firmly in coach Brad Stevens' deep rotation, when healthy. Smart missed 21 games, including 18 in a row from Nov. 22 to Dec. 27 while recovering from a lower-leg injury, but played in the Celtics' final 52 contests. Smart began the year as a starter but played exclusively off the bench after returning from injury. His role wasn't greatly impacted, however, as he saw at least 20 minutes in every game after Dec. 31. The 22-year-old remains a foundational piece in a still-developing Celtics backcourt, but he simply must improve his shooting efficiency to mount a serious challenge to Avery Bradley for the starting shooting guard spot. With Evan Turner now in Portland, Smart projects to serve as the Celtics' versatile sixth man, vacillating between both guard spots depending on need.
As a rookie in 2014-15, Smart struggled through Achilles and ankle injuries to play in 67 games, averaging 7.8 points, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 three-pointers per game. When available, Smart and Avery Bradley made for a lethal defensive backcourt, giving head coach Brad Stevens lots of opportunities to frustrate opponents, but Smart struggled offensively, shooting only 37 percent from the field, 34 percent from three land, and 65 percent from the free-throw line. The Celtics would clearly like to improve on Smart's 27 minutes per game, but that will be difficult with 2015 first-round picks Terry Rozier and R. J. Hunter also needing backcourt minutes to develop. Plus, the C's desperately need Isaiah Thomas' scoring. Evan Turner also proved last year that he can play both backcourt positions. Smart's aggressive defensive style leads to injuries, as demonstrated by the two fingers he dislocated during the Las Vegas Summer League. GM Danny Ainge's constant collecting of assets will eventually result in a trade that will shuffle the roster, which could further improve Smart's opportunities to play. Smart, the sixth pick of the 2014 draft, clearly has loads of potential. But there are too many obstacles in his path to predict a breakout sophomore season.
Smart is viewed as a combo guard with a primary focus as a point guard. If the Celtics drafted him to be a shooting guard, he'll need to improve in one significant area – his shooting. The sixth-overall pick in the draft shot just 29 percent during the summer league. While he managed to make 42 percent of his shots at Oklahoma State, much of that was due to Smart's ability to get to the rim. He made just 28 percent of his jump shots in the half-court offense. Smart is well-built and uses his body to create opportunities for himself, particularly on the drive. He averaged more than eight free-throw attempts per game for the Cowboys last season. Smart's also considered one of the top perimeter defenders coming out of college this year, a trait that pleases coach Brad Stevens. The coach has talked about establishing a "defensive DNA" for his team, and Smart fits that profile. He now joins a Celtics team that's got an elite point guard in Rajon Rondo and just signed its shooting guard, Avery Bradley, to a four-year contract. Initially, it looks like Smart will back up both guard spots. However, there's potential for an increased role later in the season, particularly if Boston trades Rondo, who is in the final year of his contract before hitting unrestricted free agency.
More Fantasy News
Ruled out Saturday vs. Philly
GMemphis Grizzlies
Ankle
November 1, 2024
Smart (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the 76ers.
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Will not play Thursday
GMemphis Grizzlies
Ankle
October 31, 2024
Smart (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bucks.
ANALYSIS
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Won't return Wednesday
GMemphis Grizzlies
Ankle
October 30, 2024
Smart has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's game against the Nets due to a right ankle injury.
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Goes to locker room
GMemphis Grizzlies
Ankle
October 30, 2024
Smart limped back to the locker room during Wednesday's game against the Nets with what appears to be an ankle injury, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.
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Nabs two steals Saturday
GMemphis Grizzlies
October 27, 2024
Smart racked up nine points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three assists, two steals and one block across 21 minutes during Saturday's 124-111 victory over the Magic.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Rockets could target him
GMemphis Grizzlies
June 25, 2024
The Rockets are believed to be considering a trade for Smart and are open to dealing the No. 3 pick to Memphis to get him, Marc Stein of Substackc reports.
ANALYSIS
The Grizzlies are believed to be interested in drafting UConn star Donovan Clingan, and acquiring the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft would give them that option. Meanwhile, the Rockets are open to trading that pick away in exchange of a package centered around Smart, who already played for head coach Ime Udoka in Boston. Smart would be an upgrade to Houston's perimeter defense.
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