Marcus Smart will be heading back to the place that made him famous: TD Garden. On Dec. 5, 2025, for the first time ever, it will be in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey.
Los Angeles will be on the road against the Boston Celtics. That matchup is already shaping up to be one of the most emotionally-charged games on the NBA calendar. And this time, it is not just because it is Lakers versus Celtics.
Marcus Smart heads back to Boston in enemy colors
Smart spent nine unforgettable seasons in Boston, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022 and ranking among the top 25 in both games played and scoring in the franchise’s storied history. He was the heart and hustle of the Celtics, the kind of player fans thought might be there forever.
Everything changed in the summer of 2023. Boston made its push for a championship, and Smart was traded in a bold move that ultimately helped bring banner number 18 to TD Garden. He has only played against the Celtics once since then.
That one game was a disappointing showing, to say the least. He had a quiet performance on Dec. 7, 2024, during 19 minutes of action. This year’s matchup has a whole different feel. This time, he is a Laker. That alone adds serious spice to a rivalry that never needed help in the drama department.
There have been a number of ex-Celtics who, at some point when leaving Boston, decided to put on the purple and gold. Two of those names include fan favorites Rajon Rondo and Isaiah Thomas, but none of them meant as much to Boston’s modern identity as Smart did.
While the second meeting between these teams on February 22nd, 2026, will also be special as it is the night the Lakers will unveil a statue for coaching legend Pat Riley, all eyes will be on Smart’s return in December.
The Celtics have undergone major change this summer. They have moved on from Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and likely Al Horford. This summer they have been retooling; meanwhile, the Lakers have been reloading.
Smart is now part of a group pushing for a deep run, and this game gives him a chance to reintroduce himself to his former fans, on enemy turf, with a different mission. For Smart, this will not just be a regular-season game. For Celtics fans, seeing him in gold might be harder than expected.