Celtics honoring Marcus Smart as a ‘Hero Among Us’ in return game to TD Garden
While Smart won't play, he's set to earn an award for the charitable contributions he made to Boston and the surrounding areas during his nine seasons with the Celtics.
Marcus Smart will be honored during his first trip back to TD Garden since the Celtics traded him this past summer.
The former Celtics guard will be honored as a “Hero Among Us” during Sunday’s Grizzlies-Celtics game for his charitable contributions in Boston and the surrounding areas during his nine seasons with the franchise.
The Celtics pointed out just a few of Smart’s contributions around Boston in a press release announcing that he was receiving the honor on Sunday. They mentioned that he spent his first day with the organization visiting children battling cancers and other severe illnesses. They also recognized the time spent and donations Smart made to Boston Children’s Hospital along with the creation of his foundation to help inner-city youth.
“Smart would visit the Boston Children’s Hospital regularly throughout his time in Boston to spend one-on-one time with kids undergoing cancer treatments,” the team wrote in a press release. “He also worked to donate mobile charging stations which included tablets and video game consoles called ‘Smart Carts’. These entertainment hubs were designed to serve as a form of communication and diversion during patients’ treatment and recovery.
“In 2017, Smart launched the YounGameChanger Foundation to serve as a source of guidance, motivation, encouragement, and empowerment for inner-city student-athletes to be GameChangers on and off the court or field. The YounGameChanger Foundation also aims to provide inspiration and life-changing experiences to pediatric cancer patients and their families. Since the organization’s launch, it has created opportunities through education, sports and mentorships with a special emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) experiences.”
Smart quickly became a fan favorite in Boston after the Celtics selected him with the sixth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. His knack for making hustle plays easily won fans over as he constantly stated his love for Boston. In fact, Smart didn’t cancel a Pro-Am event that was scheduled to be held in Boston after his trade to Memphis over the summer.
“I came to Boston as a naive kid from Dallas not really knowing what to expect,” Smart wrote in an Instagram post following the trade. “All I knew was the type of work ethic my momma instilled in me and I was going to work my [expletive] off and make sure I EARNED the respect of each and every one of the fans in Boston. Which is why this was tuff.
“Boston, you are a very special place to me. I grew up here and met some of my best friends here. I’ll never forget my time here. Ultimately we didn’t get that 18th banner but I’m VERY VERY proud of the success we had. I’m going to miss so many things about Boston but mainly my teammates, fans, and kids and our hospital charity work.
“It was a great 9 years Boston, thank you for all the love…but now it’s time to look forward.”
The “Hero Among Us” program was established by the Celtics in 1997, honoring “outstanding individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to their communities” at every home game since then.
Smart won’t play in Sunday’s game as he’s still dealing with a finger injury on his right hand that’s sidelined him for nearly a month. The Grizzlies announced on Jan. 11 that he was expected to miss six weeks.
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