Two Celtics players were recognized by the National Basketball Players Association for their efforts during the 2018-19 season.
Marcus Smart and Gordon Hayward both won "NBA Players Voice" awards on Tuesday. Smart was one of 30 NBA players to earn the Backbone Award, which is given to players who are the "heart and soul" of their team and bring 100-percent effort day in and day out. Hayward earned the Comeback Player Award for his contributions to the C's after suffering a catastrophic ankle injury in the 2017-18 season opener.
Unsurprisingly, Smart also earned NBA's Hustle Award last month.
Smart and Hayward both will be counted on to contribute even more next season with both Kyrie Irving and Al Horford leaving Boston in free agency. C's assistant coach Scott Morrison says Hayward has gotten "stronger, faster, and leaner" this offseason, so the 29-year-old could take another step in the right direction in a more prominent role.
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