There’s more than a few labels that have stuck with Marcus Smart. Sometimes he’s ‘injury-prone’ and on good days, he’s a ‘floor general’ with unbeatable defensive skills. But with a potential move to Los Angeles, fans want to know Smart deeper. If reports are to be believed, the Lakers are clearing cap space to accommodate the guard after a buyout from the Wizards. There’s a reported two-year, $11 million deal on the table if Smart were to come to LA. But the Bucks and Suns are also in contention to get him.

It would be the third team in two years for Smart. It might feel like he’s traded before he grows on the local fanbase. So there’s always the lingering question about who Marcus Smart is behind the 2021 DPOY.

Where is Marcus Smart from, and what is his nationality?

Born March 6, 1994, Marcus Osmond Smart was born in raised in the north Dallas suburb of Flower Mound in Texas, USA. He is an American by nationality, having grown up in the southern U.S. and played high school basketball at Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound. He’s a folk hero of his school, leading them to a 115-6 record and state Class 5A titles for two seasons. He’d go on to Oklahoma State and later to Boston, Washington, and potentially LA next.

Though he represented Boston through his NBA career, his roots are firmly grounded in Texas. In 2014, when he was between the Celtics and Maine Red Claws, the then 20-year-old held his word to his late mother, Camellia, and bought her a house in their neighborhood. He visited the new home while the Celtics were playing the Mavs at the American Airlines Center. The previous owners had not moved out by then, so he and his parents stayed in first floor of the house.

On the rare occasion the Celtics came to Dallas, you’d find all of Marcus’ family in the stands. Something Smart said, “I love it.” His extended family couldn’t afford to watch him play when he was young. So when he was earning millions in the NBA, he would secure about three dozens tickets for them.

What is Marcus Smart’s ethnicity?

Marcus Smart is African-American, an identity he proudly embraces both on and off the court. His parents, Billy Frank Smart and the late Camellia Smart, are also African-American, with a strong family legacy of resilience and faith. His cultural background has deeply influenced his values, competitive spirit, and leadership style.

Is Marcus Smart religious?

Marcus Smart has not spoken extensively about his religion, but he often references God and faith in interviews, especially when discussing personal loss. He lost his mother to cancer in 2018. She was known to end every phone call with “God love you. I love you.” a phrase Marcus later tattooed on his arm, symbolizing the role of faith in his life.

Smart isn’t overt about his spirituality but he had his mother’s fiery spirit on the court. Something that helped him win All-Defensive honors. After Camellia wouldn’t let Marcus put basketball career on hold, he would reveal how her final lesson stayed with him. “God has blessed me with an ability to go out there and play the game that I love to play. And I don’t want to regret that. So I feel I need to go out every day and play like it’s my last.”

It wasn’t just his mother. He previously lost a childhood friend akin to a brother, Todd Westbrook, to cancer too. Even with a tumor and chemotherapy, Smart saw Todd walk out of a hospital and score 30 points in their high school game not knowing which game would be his last. He carried that drive all the way to the NBA.

After Camellia lost her summer-long battle to cancer, a devastated Smart left Dallas after his mother’s funeral, back to Boston where his teammates took care of him in his time of grief. Boston’s love and support made it his second home. Despite no ties to New England, Smart lived and breathed the Celtics‘ championship culture. And he’s due to come to the Celtics’ greatest rivals on the other coast, closer to Dallas. Talk about full circle.