Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart To Donate Blood Plasma To Help in Research for Coronavirus Cure

The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted sporting events all over the world. Fans and athletes alike have contracted the virus. Recently, the NBA suspended its ongoing season to keep players and fans safe. Later, news emerged that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the infection. In the ensuing days, more players across the league tested positive. Some of the big names included 2x NBA finals MVP, Kevin Durant. However, Marcus Smart, who was among the first wave of patients, has recovered. The player took to Twitter to announce he was Corona free.

Marcus Smart will donate blood plasma 

The Athletic’s NBA writer Shams Charania tweeted that the Boston Celtics guard is one of the four players who will donate blood for the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project. The project aims to study the blood of those who have recovered from the disease. Smart is one of four NBA players who is participating in the Project. The other 3 names are unknown as of this moment. 

Further, Charania termed Smart as one of the NBA’s strongest voices since he announced his positive diagnosis two weeks ago.

An ABC News report says the NBA is supporting this project and has reached out to team physicians. The league is encouraging recovered players to participate in the experimental treatment project. 

Mayo clinic anesthesiologist Michael Joyner believes this experiment “can be disease-modifying and reduce duration and severity in some patients. The therapy utilizes the antibodies in blood from recovered patients to potentially curb the virus in sick patients.”

He feels athletes are viable donors as they have a high plasma volume. He said, “Frequently, people who are physically trained also have an increase in their plasma volume from what you would expect from them just being regular-sized guys.

Unfortunately, the NBA will not start until mid-June at the earliest. However, fans hope more athletes across different sports volunteer for the project and do their bit to help stop the pandemic.