Celtics Player Marcus Smart Dives Into Crowd, Avoids Child With Cancer, And Inspires Memes

Towards the end of the Boston Celtics' victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Celtics guard Marcus Smart dove into the crowd in an attempt to save a loose ball. It's the sort of hustle play that has endeared Smart to Celtics fans, but this dive into the crowd was a little different: as Smart catapulted into the stands, his body contorted in a strange and potentially dangerous way. He was avoiding a child with cancer.

It's late an I'm not sure how many people will to see this, but this needs to be highlighted. Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball & it took him out of bounds over a sideline sign. In this moment, up 3 trying save a possession, he recognized a pediatric cancer patient & avoided him pic.twitter.com/9D2ibAPQk0

— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) February 8, 2020

That Smart was able to recognize the danger and adjust his course in a split second is itself a pretty incredible athletic feat, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Of course, no viral moment, no matter how wholesome, will come with memes. After the play, Smart, anticipating the deluge of jokes about the moment, tweeted, "Here come the weird Celtics Twitter memes in 5, 4, 3…" Naturally, Celtics Twitter obliged.

Here comes the weird Celtics twitter helmet memes in 5-4-3…

— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) February 8, 2020

We gotta keep our guys safe!@Max_Lederman pic.twitter.com/08JH1QOcGz

— ☘️Jonah☘️ (@Zardawg) February 8, 2020

Me and the boys when Smarf check in to the game pic.twitter.com/Ve5KrVStts

— 13 Yung James (Roughneck SZN 1-0 BABY) (@jims__juice) February 8, 2020

Never leave home without your helmet Marcus, we gotta keep you safe at all times pic.twitter.com/iuYu3XJ7kI

— CelticsContent (@CelticsContent) February 8, 2020

Smart checked on the child afterwards and gave him his jersey after the game, wrapping up one of the most wholesome basketball stories of the year so far.