‘Boston will always be in my heart.’

When the Boston Celtics traded Marcus Smart, they sent away the heartbeat of the city along with him.

In nine years, Smart has become a constant on and off the court. For many young ballers in Boston, they saw a hardworking, blue-collar athlete that gives 100% no matter what and every time he’s on the court.

Off the court, Smart’s YoungGameChanger Foundation has been a resource for ill families and students throughout Boston, as Smart has a strong connection to cancer patients after he lost his mother.

He’s provided Smart Carts to nine different hospitals throughout the country. One Smart Cart includes a tablet and other equipment to provide internet, entertainment, and educational opportunities, as he teamed up with Lenovo and Walmart to make happen.

The nine hospitals that have received carts are: Tufts Children’s Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital-Providence, UMASS Children’s Medical Center-Worcester, Connecticut Children’s Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, Children’s Health-Dallas, Wisconsin Children’s- Milwaukee, Franciscan Childrens, Boston Medical Center and Lawrence Hospital.

Smart also has a STEAM program where he teamed with Texas Instruments and Boston Collegiate Charter School to provide 325 programmable calculators to their students and has worked towards enhancing STEAM to the inner city students.

Along with mentorship and basketball camps, the YoungGameChanger Foundation has been a big hit in Boston since Day 1.

Here’s what Smart said to CLNS about how the trade has impacted Celtics fans and the city of Boston as a whole.

“I’ve just built a special bond with the fans and the people of Boston. I don’t think there’s no a place in Boston that I can’t go where I wouldn’t be welcomed, and that speaks volumes. It’s definitely tough, I’m hearing it all the time from everybody. The fans, every time I see them they’re devastated, the city is devastated and I understand why. We grew up together. It’s definitely thought, it’s definitely hard to say goodbye.”

There wasn’t much that Smart didn’t accomplish in Boston. The Celtics made the playoffs every year he was on the team and made three All-NBA Defensive First Teams. He is the first guard since 1996 to win Defensive Player of the Year.

The only thing he didn’t accomplish was a championship in Boston.

“I love the journey that I’ve been a part of with this organization, with this team. I couldn’t ask for more. Only thing I regret is that we didn’t get it when we had our chance when I was here. But other than that, I’ve enjoyed my run.”

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