Jayson Tatum Discusses Marcus Smart's Departure, Partakes in His First Golf Pro-Am

Before getting traded to the Grizzlies, Marcus Smart, a nine-year veteran, was the longest-tenured player on the Celtics. His new work home is a city Jayson Tatum knows well.

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Celtics star Jayson Tatum returned to Memphis, where the St. Louis native spent many summers growing up, to play in his first golf pro-am.

The two-time All-NBA First Team selection's stepfather, Jakes Barnes, is from Bluff City, and Tatum played on the summer AAU circuit there.

But despite saying Memphis is like a second home to him, that familiarity couldn't prevent the nervousness the four-time All-Star admitted to feeling as a result of getting grouped with Jon Rahm at the FedEx St. Jude Championship Pro-Am.

Rahm has won a green jacket at the Masters, accumulated 19 other professional victories, and been ranked the number one golfer in the world. He's currently third on that list.

The 2022 Eastern Conference Finals MVP told Mark Giannotto of the Memphis Commercial Appeal that while he hasn't given Marcus Smart, now of the Grizzlies after nine years in Boston, six teaming with Tatum, any advice about Memphis, he offered the following.

"He's gonna love it, and the fans are gonna love him, and the city's gonna love him. I'm sad to see him go, but happy for him to get a new start and (I'm) excited to see what he does."

Tatum also expressed to Giannotto the Grizzlies are "Getting a leader. They're getting a guy that's a winner. He's been to the playoffs every year. We've been to the Finals together, obviously, so he knows what it takes to get there. Obviously, he's extremely talented. Best defender in the league. Just a guy you would love to have on your team."

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