Boston Celtics: 5 Things We Learned From 2018-2019 Media Day

3) Marcus Smart is a poet

For anybody who loves the sport, basketball often feels like a refuge from the outside world. All the distractions and stresses of everyday life fly out the window when a ball-player enters a gym. Christians have prayer, Buddhists have meditation, and basketball players have a basketball and an empty gym.

There’s no better therapy than a late-night shooting session. Two seasons ago, when Isaiah Thomas lost his sister Chyna in a devastating car accident, he found solace in his teammates and the game, delivering an epic, heart-wrenching, and memorable playoff run highlighted by a 53-point effort in Game 2 vs. the Washington Wizards on what would have been his sister’s 23rd birthday.

Last season, Marcus Smart played through the pain of his mother’s cancer diagnosis. Smart’s mother, Camellia, tragically lost her battle to cancer about a week ago. When asked about her at Media Day, Smart delivered a speech worthy of the Basketball Hall of Fame, per Jay King of The Athletic.

As a writer, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Props to you Marcus, and our thoughts are with you in this difficult time.