It's probably weird for Smart too, who over time became the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics after they drafted him in 2014. Hating the Lakers was a prerequisite for the role, and Smart didn't shy away from Boston's rivalries. That's likely why he expects Boston to boo him when he returns as a Laker. It's probably what he would do.

New Lakers guard Marcus Smart has an idea of how Celtics fans will greet him when he visits TD Garden as a member of the Purple and Gold.

All Marcus Smart knew was playoff intensity in his first nine NBA seasons. Smart made the playoffs every year since getting drafted by the Celtics in 2014, so there was intimate knowledge about what the postseason is like from all angles.