The Boston Celtics might as well be the “walking wounded” given the amount of injuries the roster has sustained as of late.

Guard Marcus Smart avoided any such issue despite crashing into the Atlanta Hawks bench on Friday night, though he was more concerned about who he crashed into when he flew into the crowd.

Smart said he collided with a cancer survivor after the tumble, though the fan was ok following the collision. Smart found the fan after the game, giving him the game jersey and an arm band:

Of course, it is can be dangerous when a player dives into the crowd attempting to save a loose ball. But nobody was hurt in this instance, with Smart showing his quality by seeking out the courageous fan.

Smart has had injuries of his own to worry about, though not in the most conventional sense. He missed over two weeks of action in December due to a strange infection that took hold in both eyes.

Article Continues Below
More Boston Celtics News
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots a free throw in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at TD Garden.
What Jaylen Brown’s surgery means for Celtics’ 2025-26 seasonDaniel Donabedian ·
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks with guard Jaylen Brown (7) and guard Derrick White (9) from the sideline as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden.
NBA rumors: Celtics ‘100%’ getting ‘big trade offers’ for Jaylen Brown, Derrick WhiteJulian Ojeda ·
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) in the second half at Frost Bank Center.
Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s knee surgery comes with silver liningQuinn Allen ·
Boston Celtics players Paul Pierce (34) , Rajon Rondo (9) , Kevin Garnett (5) and Ray Allen (20) await the start of overtime against the New York Knicks at TD Garden.
Ray Allen recalls Kevin Garnett Celtics confrontationRandall Barnes ·
image thumbnail
Mavericks trade proposal lands Jrue Holiday from CelticsJedd Pagaduan ·
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.
RUMOR: Bill Simmons doesn’t think Jaylen Brown is ‘untouchable’Alex House ·

More recently, Smart missed a pair of games due to a quad contusion. He scored nine points to go along with six six assists and five rebounds during Friday's win over the Hawks.

The 25-year-old is averaging 12.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds through his first 40 games while also averaging a career-high 31.5 minutes per game.

Though Smart has struggled to convert around the rim, he is shooting somewhat effectively (35 percent) from beyond the arc, and he is very capable on the ball. Moreover, Smart continues to excel on the defensive end, guarding multiple positions and getting into the body of his assignments.

But Friday's gesture is more indicative of Smart's value to the franchise: he is a fan favorite, a veteran, a tough guy player, and the true heartbeat of this Celtics team.