Marcus Smart has one particular word for anyone blaming Kyrie Irving for Celtics' series loss against the Bucks.
Boston was eliminated from the postseason Wednesday after falling, 116-91, to Milwaukee, which took the Eastern Conference semifinal series, 4-1.
When Smart addressed the media Thursday, he defended the six-time NBA All-Star.
"Bulls—. That's bulls—," Smart said when asked if Irving's leadership skills were behind the Celtics' lack of chemistry. "Not one of us on this team knows what Kyrie has been through. Probably a few amount of people in this world know what Kyrie goes through. It was hard for him as well.
"He was forced into a situation where it was business over the friendships. He had to come into a situation knowing this is a group of guys that had something going before [he came] here. 'How will I fit in?' He didn't want to disrupt that. That says a lot. This is Kyrie Irving we're talking about it, and he's worried about coming in and disrupting us. We took him in with full arms. We tried to understand. But like I said, we never really understood because we're not in his shoes. That's just a bulls— statement to say his leadership skills killed us."
Marcus Smart on the notion that Kyrie Irving’s leadership ruined the Celtics: “Bullshit. That’s bullshit.” pic.twitter.com/xWPKIxp2Bw
— Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) May 9, 2019
Irving shot 30.1% from the floor (25 for 83) in the team's four losses to the Bucks and was 6-for-21 shooting in the Celtics' final game Wednesday.
"We just couldn't find a way to do it. It's nobody's fault. It happens," Smart added. "It's four other guys out there, 13 other guys on the team. Coaches and everything. To just blame it on one guy is bulls—."
Irving's future in Boston is uncertain with the possibility of becoming a restricted free agent in the offseason.
For Smart, who finished the first season on a four-year deal, he'll leave that part to Irving himself.
"If he wants to talk about it, he will," Smart said. "That's his decision. Not for me to ask. Not really my business. I love Kyrie as a brother. I talk to Kyrie. I wish nothing for the best if he decides to stay. If he decides to go, I wish nothing but the best for Kyrie. It's my brother. But I have not talked to him and I do not plan to. It's his decision."