Photo: Jim Davis/Boston Globe

Marcus Smart has his own sentimental reason on why he dyes his hair frequently in this year’s fruitful postseason with the Boston Celtics. 

Through donning the Celtics’ trademark color, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year also honors his late mom, who passed away in 2018 due to cancer. 

“My mom, before she passed away, always loved my hair,” Smart said (h/t ClutchPoints’ Paolo Songco). “Things I was doing with it, from the braids to letting it grow out. Then I started to dye it, and she really liked that. She always said she wanted me to see me in green, but obviously, she passed away, so she never got to see me. So when we started this playoff run, I was like, ‘For her, I’mma gonna go have it dyed and see what it looks like. Everybody loved it and so now it’s kinda here.”

Smart’s inspired plays and tenacity greatly helped the Cs to stand in the deepest part of the playoffs that they haven’t reached yet since 2010. They toppled grueling opponents en route to the final stage, and the feisty guard knows that they have more daunting challenges to face. 

With his back against the wall entering Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals on Thursday against the leading Golden State Warriors, Smart will certainly play his heart out for his mother to keep those title hopes alive.