Marcus Smart happy to be staying with the Celtics

The guard, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract this week, is looking forward to help the Celtics contend for the NBA championship.

He spent a little over two weeks waiting for the phone to ring, hoping to cash in as a first-time NBA free agent.

 But there were no calls and no offer sheets for Marcus Smart, so all he could do was try to be patient throughout the process.

 “This is a business, so you can’t get too high or too low on things,’’ said Smart. “But I enjoyed the experience. Even though it’s a frustrating experience, it’s amazing because not many people can experience it.

 “I just had to take that and use that as encouragement and a motivator and a positive. It’s a business, so things aren’t perfect.’’

 In the end, though, everything worked out just fine for Smart, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract to remain with the Celtics on Thursday.

 Activity has been slow for restricted free agents such as Smart this summer, and with no other team making a bid for him, the Celtics opened negotiations earlier this week and got a deal done.

 Smart, who will enter his fifth season this fall, didn’t want to leave Boston, and the Celtics wanted to retain their defensive spark plug who makes so many things happen, even if he struggles shooting the ball.

 “We both agreed,’’ said Smart on a conference call on Friday afternoon. “Boston loves me, I love Boston. Boston wants me here, I want to be here. I am here. We made it work.

 “I’m ecstatic. This is a blessing. Never in a million years (did) I (think) I’d play for the Boston Celtics while growing up watching them, a historic franchise, and to be part of an organization that has a winning culture is something you never forget.’’

 Smart, the sixth pick in the 2014 draft, said that the lack of movement in free agency the past couple of weeks didn’t get to him because of the fact that his 63-year-old mother,

 Camellia, is undergoing treatment for bone marrow cancer in Texas.

 “She’s doing good,’’ said Smart. “She’s stable. She’s hanging in there. This is a hard time, but at the same time it’s an exciting time for my family. With the signing, it kind of brings a little joy and lightens up a situation that was dark and gloomy.

 “My main focus has really been on my mom and my family. When adversity hits your family, you kind of put things in perspective.’’

 Smart, who has been with the Celtics the longest of anyone on the current roster, is looking forward to the 2018-19 season, his future secure with a new contract and the team sitting as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference.

 “As a competitor, you always want to win championships and you want to put yourself in being in the best place to do that,’’ said Smart. “The Celtics, right now, (are) one of those teams where we have a great shot to win it and have a chance to be there to win it. It’s a great organization, a great city and it fits me, my type of style, who I am.

 “I’m able to be a on a team to have an opportunity to go down and be a part of this historic journey and this historic organization. I’m ecstatic. I’m ready to go. With those missing pieces (Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward) coming back, I think we have a real shot.’’

 Smart will be looked at as a defensive catalyst again, a player coach Brad Stevens will turn to when there is a need for a game-changing hustle play.

 It is a role has excelled at during his time with the Celtics, and it helped earn him a $52 million payday.

 “It’s a great feeling,’’ said Smart. “I’ve always taken pride in my defense. Growing up, I was always taught defense wins championships, offense wins games. To hear my name being talked in that aspect is a great feeling and an honor for Danny (Ainge) and the organization to feel that strongly.

 “Each year, I’ve expanded my game. This year I showed more my ability to play the point guard position and be more of a play maker. I’m going to work on all aspects of my game. The uniqueness about me is I don’t do one thing perfectly or great. I do a little bit of everything. That’s what makes me so unique.

 “If I can just get a little better each year, I’ve done my job.’’

 Smart was unable to attend a press conference Thursday afternoon because he had to go to New England Baptist Hospital due to a stomach bug that required IV fluids.

 “I’m feeling so much better,’’ he said. “I ate something on the way (to Boston and became ill). A little fluids always helps that.’’

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.