Former Miami Heat champion shooting guard Dwyane Wade thinks Boston Celtics veteran guard Marcus Smart ought to be front if not center in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year conversation.
Front because of the Texan’s defensive versatility, able to guard small, quick guards all the way up to stout, strong big men. Not center, though, because the former Heatle acknowledges the award almost always goes to big men, now-Los Angeles Clipper forward Kawhi Leonard the lone recent exception.
Speaking on a recent TNT NBA broadcast, the Chicago native said, “[l]isten, I know that this award is normally a big man’s award […] but this year, we need to get back to the Gary Paytons of the world, the Michael Jordans of the world, where guards get the Defensive Player of the Year award.”
“What Marcus Smart has done, I mean you saw him tonight when he met [Allen] at the rim, I mean he’s fearless. And it’s not just the blocks, it’s the hustle. It’s the diving on the floor for the ball, it’s the switching one through five that the guy does.”
“So I think he deserves more credit,” he added.
The Flower Mound native was appreciative of his former opponent’s praise, and responded on Twitter with thanks on Saturday.
“Appreciate the love Dwyane Wade! [coming] from one of the best to ever play the game! I’m [with you]. DPOY equality! Guards can do it too. Defense ain’t about the size,” tweeted the Oklahoma State product. “It’s about the [heart]. Appreciate [you]!”
Smart has long been the heart and soul of the team on both ends of the floor, and while long-derided as a ‘flopper’ by some analysts and casual NBA fans, the consensus has started to come around outside of Celtics fandom of how the former Cowboy contributes to winning basketball.
So, it’s especially nice to see such a high-profile endorsement of what the Celtics vet has been doing on the defensive side of the parquet.
