“You don’t understand—my back hurt just standing still.”
The voice on the other end of the call wasn’t bitter. It was reflective. Maybe even relieved.
“I was 240 pounds. I’m a guard. I wasn’t supposed to be carrying that kind of weight,” Marcus Smart said, pausing to let the number hang there. His laugh was soft, almost self-deprecating. “Man, I was tired all the time. I knew something had to give.”
And so, something did.
Marcus Smart Weight Loss: A Quiet, Relentless Rebuild
“I didn’t drop weight to look good in the mirror. I dropped it to stay on the court.”
He tells you this like a confession. No drama. Just truth.
Marcus Smart, long known as the Boston Celtics’ bruising defensive wall, weighed in at 240 pounds during the 2016-2017 playoffs. That wasn’t muscle. That was pain-in-the-back, slow-on-the-switch, can’t-jump-like-I-used-to kind of weight.
And in the summer of 2017, something clicked.
“I went down to 223 by camp. Twenty pounds gone. And it wasn’t just about losing—it was about changing everything I was doing.”
What Triggered the Change?
“A chef. And no more fried food.”
That’s how he started. Smart hired a personal chef and shifted toward a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in lean proteins, fresh greens, and whole grains. Fried chicken? Gone. Soda? Gone. The hardest part, he admits, was the routine. “You get used to eating fast. I had to slow everything down.”
And when he did, the scale followed.
“I stopped eating late, too,” he adds. “I was literally just… living better.”
From Bulky to Built: How 240 Became 223—and Then 220
The transformation wasn’t just visual—it was functional.
“I could finally move again. I felt fast. I felt explosive.”
Before the weight loss, Smart was dealing with fatigue. His back ached. His conditioning dipped.
“I wasn’t me anymore,” he says quietly. “Not the me I knew I could be.”
By the time he walked into the Celtics’ training camp that fall, he tipped the scale at 223—the lowest weight he had been since his Oklahoma State days. His body fat? Down significantly from 10.55% to a tighter, leaner frame. The “flab” had turned into function.
Marcus Smart Weight Loss and the Court Impact
Did it help?
Absolutely.
Smart became noticeably quicker on rotations. His footwork—more agile. His energy—recharged.
“Look, I was never gonna be the flashy scorer,” he said. “But when I dropped the weight, I became the defender nobody wanted to see coming at them full speed.”
It was Danny Ainge who originally suggested the transformation.
“I think you’d be even better ten pounds lighter,” Ainge reportedly told him.
Smart went for twenty.
And Then Came the Jokes—Ozempic, Really?
Fast-forward to 2024. Marcus Smart, now in Memphis, is still making waves—this time with an even leaner look. A photo hit social media, and fans started speculating.
Jaylen Brown? He couldn’t resist a jab:
“Marcus out here lookin’ like he’s on Ozempic,” Brown joked.
Smart just laughed.
“Man, this ain’t no miracle drug,” he said. “It’s salmon and spinach and saying no to donuts. That’s it.”
A New Body at 30: The Wisdom Weight Loss Brings
Smart is 30 now. He’s not chasing six-packs or magazine covers. He’s chasing longevity. Purpose. Another playoff run.
“I used to think I had to be big to be tough. Turns out, being light is what made me strong.”
He says it with a kind of calm that only comes with experience. And effort.
Visualizing the Change: What Marcus Left Behind
Picture this:
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A 240-pound guard, limping off the court with a tight back.
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A plate of fried catfish next to a half-finished soda.
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Exhausted eyes. Heavy legs.
Now picture:
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A 220-pound Smart, shirt soaked in sweat, grinding through resistance bands.
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A plate of grilled chicken, steamed broccoli, and quinoa.
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A smile. A voice full of fight.
The weight of transformation isn’t just in pounds. It’s in the choices made when nobody’s watching.
Marcus Smart’s Workout & Diet Plan—What We Know
Here’s a breakdown of what helped Marcus lose the weight:
Diet:
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Eliminated fried foods
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Switched to Mediterranean-style meals
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Hired a personal chef
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Focused on lean protein, vegetables, and fiber
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Cut out sugary drinks
Fitness:
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Emphasis on agility drills and cardio conditioning
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Focused strength training with lighter body weight
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Consistent core work to ease back pain
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Regular recovery and stretching routines
He Gained What Matters
Smart doesn’t talk about “before and after” photos. He talks about feeling whole again.
“Losing the weight gave me my game back. Gave me my confidence back.”
He didn’t just lose 20 pounds. He gained years on his career.
And maybe something even more valuable.
FAQ: Marcus Smart Weight Loss Questions Fans Keep Asking
1. How much weight did Marcus Smart lose?
He lost 20 pounds, going from 240 pounds to around 220.
2. Why did Marcus Smart lose weight?
He struggled with fatigue, back pain, and conditioning. Smart wanted to regain speed, agility, and court stamina.
3. How did Marcus Smart lose weight?
Through clean eating (Mediterranean diet), hiring a personal chef, and an upgraded training regimen focused on core strength and cardio.
4. Is Marcus Smart using weight loss drugs like Ozempic?
No. Though teammate Jaylen Brown joked about it, Marcus confirmed his transformation was all-natural.
5. How does his weight loss affect his game?
His explosiveness improved, and he gained back mobility and endurance, which are crucial for his defensive role.
The Final Word—Not Skinny, Just Smart
Marcus Smart didn’t lose weight to trend on Instagram.
He lost it to stay relevant. Stay dangerous. Stay… Smart.
And in doing so, he gave us a blueprint—not just for athletes, but for anyone staring at the scale, wondering if change is worth it.
“It wasn’t easy,” he says. “But it saved my career.”
There’s no better reason than that.
