#36 for Life
Marcus Smart colored his hair green in honor of his late mother. To us, that green hair meant, a Celtic pride. It served as a symbol of Marcus, the son, and player of the Boston Celtics. Never in my life would I have imagined the Celtics team I root for to no longer have Marcus Smart on their side. Anyone else could have been traded and it would not have had the same amount of surprise as it was for Smart's trade. This NBA offseason has been crazy and there is still so much news to wait for.
At first, there was so much craziness going on because of the Celtics wanting Kristaps Porziņģis. Brogdon was reported to be traded and I was lowkey upset but the NBA is a business. All day the whole NBA community was waiting to see if it would happen. Around 10 pm, reports went around saying that Porzingis would not come to the Celtics and the deal was legit closed. I started to laugh when this happened. Not because I was happy but because who would have thought that before going to bed this would be the note I was leaving with? An hour passed and BOOM, the Celtics had closed the deal and gotten Kristaps. A couple of minutes later, the news went off about Marcus being traded... man. The way my heart sank and all the joy I was feeling about getting Kristaps left me. I was so sad and could not believe it. In football, there are captains and they are always the ones who make sure the rest of the team is on top of their game. Marcus Smart was like our captain, our heart and soul. The one who fights for his own. I could have sworn on my life that Marcus would have retired a Celtic and I think others thought the same way as well. Marcus Smart himself said he had no idea he would be traded and thought he would retire a Celtic.
After being with the team for 9 years Marcus Smart finally departs from the Celtics. Sports are all a whole business at the end of the day and sometimes they just do not make sense. As humans, we grow attached to some of these players that we have seen give their all to their team, year after year. He will always be my DPOY, my captain and I know that when he comes back to Boston he will always be loved. Truly.
What he has done for Boston will always be remembered and treasured. Boston fans are known for acting 'bad' with players but when we respect a player, it is on a whole other level. We will always have nothing but respect for Smart. He has done so much for this city and has truly made a name for himself, even outside of basketball. Visiting patients at hospitals whether they were kids or adults. Hosting events for kids. Always be there for an interview, podcast, or anything you needed, he was there. Anything to look out for the people around him.
As for the Celtics, who knows what might happen? Who knows who else we will land? We have a huge hole to fill, and it will not be easy. Maybe in the next couple of years, we can get our captain back. Regardless, he will forever be a Celtics legend and we will always be grateful for our green-haired Celtic.