It’s a weird thing, honestly. You walk through TD Garden in 2026, past the statues and the overpriced beer, and you see it everywhere. The #36. It’s not like there’s a shortage of current stars. Jayson Tatum is basically a demigod, and Jaylen Brown has enough hardware to open a museum. Yet, the marcus smart celtics jersey remains a staple of the Boston wardrobe.
Why? Because for nine years, that jersey wasn't just a uniform. It was a promise. A promise that someone was going to dive into the third row for a loose ball, take a shoulder to the teeth for a charge, and probably yell at a ref until his face turned as green as his hair.
The Trade That Still Stings
When Brad Stevens traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023 to bring in Kristaps Porziņģis, the city went through the five stages of grief in about ten seconds. It worked out—Boston got that 18th banner—but seeing Smart in anything other than Celtic green felt like a glitch in the Matrix.
Since then, his journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He went from Memphis to a brief, forgettable stint with the Washington Wizards in 2025, and now he’s somehow ended up with the Lakers. Yeah, the Lakers. It’s gross. Seeing a guy who bled green wearing purple and gold is enough to make a North End native lose their calamari.
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But even with Smart out there helping LeBron and Luka in LA, the demand for his old Boston threads hasn't dipped.
Why You’re Still Seeing the Marcus Smart Celtics Jersey Everywhere
Basically, Marcus Smart was the "Heart and Soul." That’s not just a cheesy broadcast line; it’s how people felt. In 2022, he became the first point guard since Gary Payton in 1996 to win Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY).
If you own an "Icon Edition" green #36, you’re holding onto a piece of history where:
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- Defense actually mattered. He didn't care about his shooting percentage (which was often... adventurous). He cared about stops.
- The "Winning Plays" era. Remember the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals? No Isaiah Thomas, and Smart just comes out and hits seven threes to beat LeBron’s Cavs in Game 3.
- Identity. Wearing his jersey says you value grit over glamour.
You can still find these jerseys on the secondary market—sites like eBay and Poshmark are flooded with them. Interestingly, the "City Edition" versions from the 2021-2022 season (the ones with the classic cursive "Celtics" font) are becoming legitimate collector's items.
Buying a Marcus Smart Celtics Jersey in 2026: What to Know
If you’re hunting for one now, you’ve gotta be careful. Since he hasn't been on the roster for a few seasons, the official NBA Store usually won't have them in stock unless they do a "Hardwood Classics" run.
- Check the Patches: Real Nike Swingman jerseys from his final years will have the "Vistaprint" sponsor patch. If it’s missing, it might be a retail version or a knockoff.
- The Adidas Era: If you find a #36 with an Adidas logo, that’s a deep throwback from his rookie days (2014-2017). Those fit a lot baggier than the current Nike stuff.
- Pricing: Don't get ripped off. A pre-owned Swingman should run you about $40 to $60. If someone is asking $150 for a standard jersey, they’re banking on your nostalgia.
The weirdest part of the 2025-26 season has been seeing the Celtics debut their new "Gold Standard" City Edition jerseys. They have "18" stitched into the collar to celebrate the latest title. It’s beautiful gear, but for a lot of fans, it feels a little empty without the guy who did the dirty work for nearly a decade.
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The Legacy of the #36
Honestly, will they retire his number? It’s a heated debate at the bars around Causeway Street. The Celtics have retired a lot of numbers—basically every number from 0 to 35 is hanging in the rafters. #36 is currently "available," but nobody has had the guts to wear it yet.
Whether it ends up in the rafters or just in the back of your closet, the jersey represents a specific brand of Boston basketball. It’s the "Love and Trust" era. It’s the floor burns and the technical fouls.
Your Next Moves for the Collection
If you're looking to snag one or just want to honor the legacy, here’s how to handle it:
- Go Vintage: Look for the 2022 NBA Finals patch jerseys. They represent the peak of that core group's run together.
- Frame the DPOY Year: If you have an authentic (not replica) jersey from the 2021-22 season, get it framed. It’s the only DPOY jersey in franchise history for a guard.
- Check Local Shops: Boutique sports shops in Quincy or the North End often have "Deadstock" (new but old) inventory that the big websites cleared out years ago.
You don't wear a Marcus Smart jersey because you want to look like a front-runner. You wear it because you remember the guy who would lose a tooth to win a Tuesday night game against Orlando.