Marcus Smart’s Explosive IG Live Showdown with Jayson Tatum After SHOCK Lakers Signing – Because Some Rivalries Never Die

Marcus Smart knew the backlash was coming.

After nearly a decade as the gritty, defensive stalwart and emotional heart of the Boston Celtics, his sudden signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2025 felt like a gut punch to Celtics fans everywhere.

Smart openly admitted he was bracing for the hate, expecting plenty of boos and criticism.

But what caught him off guard was the subtle, yet unmistakable, shade thrown by none other than Jayson Tatum—Boston’s franchise star and the player many viewed as the team’s future.

The tension between Smart and Tatum had been brewing for years, but their recent Instagram Live confrontation turned the simmering feud into a blazing public spectacle, leaving fans shocked and divided.

To understand the fallout, you have to grasp what Smart meant to Boston.

Drafted sixth overall in 2014, he embodied the Celtics’ blue-collar identity with relentless hustle, lockdown defense, and a never-quit attitude.

He was a three-time NBA Defensive First Team member and the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.

Smart was the kind of player who would dive into the stands to save a loose ball or take a charge against players twice his size—the heart and soul of the Celtics.

But everything changed with a trade in 2023 that sent Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Though the trade made basketball sense—Boston needed size and offensive versatility—the emotional blow was huge.

Smart missed out on Boston’s 2024 championship run, the ultimate irony for a player who had helped build the team’s culture over nine seasons.

His time in Memphis was marred by injuries and inconsistency, and by early 2024, he was traded again to the Washington Wizards, where he barely saw the court.

The Wizards soon granted him permission to explore other options, leading to his buyout and eventual signing with the Lakers.

The Lakers weren’t just any team—they were Boston’s archrivals in the most storied rivalry in NBA history.

With Boston holding 18 titles to Los Angeles’ 17, the competition transcends basketball and cuts deep into legacy and pride.

Smart’s move to the Lakers was perceived as betrayal by Celtics fans, who flooded social media with heartbreak and fury.

One fan compared it to “breaking up with your girlfriend and then seeing her with your brother.”

Even Celtics superfan and commentator Bill Simmons shared memes expressing collective devastation.

But the drama wasn’t confined to fan reactions.

The fracture between Smart and Tatum had roots going back to November 2021.

After a crushing loss to the Chicago Bulls, Smart publicly called out Tatum and Jaylen Brown for their selfish play, saying, “Every team knows we’re going to Jason and Jaylen. They don’t want to pass the ball.”

This wasn’t a quiet locker room gripe—it was a public airing of dirty laundry that blindsided Tatum, who later admitted on Joe Rogan’s podcast that he had no warning and was hurt by the comments.

Though Celtics president Brad Stevens tried to smooth things over by emphasizing internal resolution and noting that the players had breakfast and talked it out, the chemistry between Smart and Tatum never fully recovered.

What was once a natural bond became strained and forced.

Fast forward to 2025, and Smart’s move to the Lakers reignited old wounds.

During an Instagram Live session, Smart confronted Tatum directly, calling out his leadership and questioning his loyalty to the Celtics’ team culture.

Tatum responded with a mix of sarcasm and defensiveness, denying any ill will and suggesting Smart’s bitterness was misplaced.

The exchange quickly escalated, with both players trading sharp barbs in front of millions of viewers.

The public feud exposed the raw emotions and fractured relationships behind the polished NBA facade.

For Celtics fans, it was painful to watch two former teammates tear each other down, especially as Boston continues to chase more championships.

Smart’s decision to join the Lakers and his willingness to publicly confront Tatum has made it clear that some rivalries never truly die—they only get messier with time.

As the 2025 season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Celtics and Lakers matchups, where these personal tensions promise to add fuel to an already intense rivalry.

For Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum, the battle isn’t just on the hardwood anymore—it’s a war of words, pride, and legacy that’s playing out live for the world to see.

And in the NBA, drama like this? It’s always good for ratings.