On this day: Marcus Smart, Michael Finley, Shaquille O’Neal born; Jayson Tatum hangs 54 points on the Nets

A trio of Celtics came into this world on this date, and Jayson Tatum went off for 54 points.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, veteran Celtics guard Marcus Osmond Smart was born in Flower Mound, Texas in 1994. The future Celtic defensive specialist would play his college ball with the Oklahoma State University Cowboys. There, he won Big 12 Player of the Year and NCAA Second Team All-American honors in 2013 and was named a National Association of Basketball Coaches Third Team All-American the following year.

He was taken sixth overall in the 2014 NBA draft and has played solely with the Celtics ever since. Smart garnered All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2015, and All-Defensive First Team honors in 2019, 2020, and 2022, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022 as well before being dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023.

Happy birthday, Marcus!