On March 11, earlier this year, the NBA announced that the season was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Many players in the league tested positive, but all of them recovered. Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart recently shared his own experience with the virus.

In his Players Tribune article, Smart composed, “Exactly five days before the league shut things down, we just happened to play Rudy Gobert and the Jazz … and my girlfriend threw a surprise birthday party for me with all of my teammates present. So when the news came down about the shutdown, and about everyone in the league getting tested, I already had a bad feeling.”

Later, when the team headed back to Boston, all of them had a check-up. So when Smart got the phone call from the team physician, he already knew what was in store. But Smart was left shocked when the doctor revealed that he was the only one on the whole team who tested positive.

He wrote, “Literally. The. Only. One. Out of all of us – players and coaches and managers and … everyone. Just Marcus is positive? Like…. Excuse me?”

Celtics’ Smart jumped when the opportunity came to help

In another added blow, Smart’s father also tested positive for the virus. He already had a history of respiratory illnesses, so the family was worried. He wrote, “My whole family was expecting the worst, waiting for it. And then….My dad experienced no symptoms with the virus. None. He’s been doing great. It was an absolute blessing.”

Their bout with the virus had Smart thinking about the battle people were facing throughout the country. So when the chance to help came, he didn’t wait.

He wrote, “One thing we do know for certain, though, is that this battle is bigger than any individual. It’s about all of us. So when I heard that my plasma and antibodies could be used to help others whose immune systems had been compromised — and could potentially save lives — I jumped at the opportunity to help out.”

Smart also spoke to the younger players regarding the virus in the bubble. Having gone through it, he wanted the players to stay careful always.

After making it to their third Eastern Conference Finals in four years, the Celtics again failed to go beyond. If they can strengthen their squad depth for the upcoming season, they can have a strong playoff run again.