Marcus Smart shares which young player is up next for Defensive Player of the Year

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart earned the most prestigious personal award of his NBA career on Monday when he was named the 2021-22 season’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Without a doubt, he was very excited about the honor. He issued a meaningful message on Instagram shortly after he was announced as the winner.

But he did not only talk about himself amidst the huge personal achievement. He also shared an exchange with Mikal Bridges, who was a finalist for the award. Smart made it clear that he believes it is only a matter of time before the Phoenix Suns youngster wins a Defensive Player of the Year award himself.

It’s a wonderful exchange and just another clear sign that the NBA is a brotherhood first and foremost. Though Bridges and Smart are both competing in the playoffs at the moment, they also clearly felt it was important to take the time to show support and appreciation for one another.

As far as the playoffs go, both Smart’s Celtics and Bridges’ Suns have championship aspirations. The Celtics are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Suns are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Moreover, both teams are currently 1-0 in their first-round series.

Though there is a long road ahead, it is not so hard to imagine the Suns and Celtics meeting in the 2022 NBA Finals.

If that were to happen, fans would surely see the two defensive dynamos leaving it all on the court to try to help their respective teams win a coveted NBA title.