Marcus Smart joined an exclusive club on Monday.
The Boston Celtics guard was named the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first point guard to win the award since Seattle SuperSonics great Gary Payton in 1995-96. Payton presented Smart with the award in front of his C's teammates.
Forsberg: For Smart, a season of redemption and validation
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SIGN UP HERE "You're a guy that I think reminds me of myself," Payton told Smart. "Everybody asks me about it all the time. You play that D the way you're supposed to. You play it with a chip on your shoulder and some heart."
After Payton announced Smart as the DPOY winner, the C's veteran was mobbed by his teammates.
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Smart beat out Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert -- the DPOY in three of the last four seasons -- and Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges for the award. He follows Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett as the second Celtics player to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
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