Celtics
“It’s definitely a highlight of my life.”
Marcus Smart drives against Chicago’s Patrick Williams on Wednesday night. PA
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Marcus Smart had a little more motivation to play well in Wednesday night’s Celtics-Bulls game in Chicago.
Former President Barack Obama watched the game from the stands, and while he may not have liked what he saw from his Bulls in their 117-94 loss to the Celtics, his presence in the building was felt by the visiting team.
“The former president of the United States, I think is one of the biggest celebrities you could play opposite,” Smart said when asked to play opposite Obama.
Smart was solid but unspectacular in his team’s win, posting 9 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds in 25:45 of play. The Celtics were a plus-20 with Smart on the ground.
Smart added that playing in front of Obama had a special meaning for him.
“It’s an honor,” Smart said. “To come here and have this opportunity, I wish my mum was here to see it, but she looks at me smiling. She saw this. So it’s definitely a highlight of my life, of my career, to play in front of someone like that.
Smart’s mother, Camellia, died in 2018 after a battle with cancer.
Obama, a former U.S. and Illinois state senator, is a noted sports fan from Chicago, with a particular interest in basketball. In 2020, Obama encouraged NBA players to end their strike following the police shooting of Jakob Blake, telling players they would have a bigger platform to stand up against racial injustices. they remained on the ground.
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