The Formula:
Marcus
Smart's
Creativity
Extends Into Fashion and Philanthropy
From pre-game rituals to YGC Global, Smart talks leveraging creativity on and off the court.
Tres Generaciones’ ‘Get Up Tres’ campaign celebrates changemakers who’ve shown unwavering fortitude in their careers no matter the obstacles ahead. It’s the same spirit that emboldened the label’s three Dons to rise from obscurity to build a renowned tequila empire. In the next installment of Tres Gen’s “The Formula,” Marcus Smart spotlights his YounGameChanger Foundation and YGC Global clothing line as creative ventures that have allowed him to define himself as more than an athlete. The campaign champions the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s inner fire and determination to rise above adversity.
For many athletes, labels and flashy, maximalist dressing represent a right of passage in the NBA, but Smart’s fashion expression is rooted in his love for his mother, who encouraged him at an early age to explore free-spirited interpretations of his style. “When I was younger, I had my hair short, and then when I started to let my hair grow out — as I got older – my mom really grew fond of it. I started to dye my hair, and she really liked it. She really liked the emerald green color. It was really for her. She didn’t get to see it in person, but she’s here with me.”
Smart created the clothing company YGC Global with his cousin, Trey Davis, in 2020. The line sits at the intersection of sports, fashion and worldwide traveling. YGC Global reinterprets streetwear-inspired apparel using graphic elements developed in collaboration with Marcello Lewis and other multidisciplinary artists and designers, like Jamal Dockery, a native of Boston, Massachusetts. The family duo aims to connect people globally through fashion and social media; the label draws inspiration from both Davis and Smart’s international travels through digitized prints and graffiti-style typography. When asked if he embraces moments of escapism through his collaborative efforts in fashion, Smart answers, “You definitely feel yourself escaping into that world. You feel yourself drifting when you get in that zone. Whatever you’re doing, nothing else matters.”
For families affected by cancer and disadvantaged youth, the YounGameChanger Foundation aims to restore this sense of wonder by creating avenues of academic enrichment through technology and student mentorship programs, empowering the next generation of dreamers to come. Marcus’ Smart Carts is among the foundation’s many initiatives, which supplies admitted patients and families with various electronics, educational games, modes of communication and entertainment during treatment periods. The foundation also funds STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) opportunities in inner-city schools to equip students with valuable resources throughout their educational development. YGC has touched organizations throughout the North East (Tree Street Youth, PASA-Providence After School Alliance, Legendary Legacies and Connecticut Center for Nonviolence).
The realm of possibility is suddenly finite in the light of a diagnosis.
On the court, Smart’s creativity shines through with unconventional movements that offset his opponents. Training regimens are exhausting and monotonous for the average gym-goer — for Smart, they’re one of many sacrifices demanded by his career that impact his body and mental health. He finds new ways to revitalize his game, drawing inspiration from his parkour days as a teenager. “I have a pre-game ritual that I do. It’s kind of like a K-flip where I’m lying down on my back, and I jump up and kick myself up. So on the court, I still keep that inner kid that I have by doing those types of things. The way I play is very unique and it’s ver of its own. The things I do out there, most people can’t, so I’m kind of just creating on the fly.”
“Whatever you’re doing, nothing else matters.”
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Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart — Marcus Smart —
creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity — creativity
01
Perseverance
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creativity
03
purpose
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Perseverance
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purpose
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DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Tres Generaciones® Tequila, 40% alc./vol. ©2022 Sauza Tequila Import Company, Chicago, IL.
The Boston Celtics point guard is no stranger to the limelight, and his eccentric green hair remains a hot topic in the public eye. The 28-year-old athlete recalls dabbling with experimental fashion and hairstyles to forge an identity separate from his brothers. “Growing up, I was the youngest of four boys,” says Smart. “As the youngest, you have to figure out ways to be heard; you have to figure out ways to be seen and respected. For me, that was big because all my brothers played sports. I had a reputation to uphold within the family, so you had to be unique, and you had to create ways to really try to be heard as your own individual, not following your brother’s footsteps.”
Creativity is a mindset to Smart, a life force that inspires him to nurture his legacy outside of basketball. Though he’s determined to hone his talents as a guard, the YoungGameChanger Foundation remains one of his proudest accomplishments, and he hopes to rally other athletes to embark on social causes close to home. “I show the world I’m more than just an athlete through my foundation. You get to see a side of me that you don’t really get to see on the court,” expresses Marcus. “I started [YGC] to help find a cure for cancer and mentor inner city kids. I actually lost my brother to cancer when I was very young, and I just recently lost my mom four years ago to cancer as well, and a couple of other family members. So cancer is something that’s affected my life in a lot of ways. I wanted to be able to do something to make a change, and that’s coming up with the foundation and showing my creativity in that way.”
“I show the world I’m more than just an athlete through my foundation.”
“The things I do out there, most people can’t, so I’m kind of just creating on the fly.”
Building an empire requires formidable strength and unflinching bravery in the face of misfortune. The road to success isn’t always linear and plans often go askew. As Tres Gen’s brand ambassador, Marcus Smarts embodies this spirit of perseverance, inner strength and the ability to rise in the eye of the storm. Championing his heart and dedication to the game, Tres Gen raises a glass to his journey ahead in leading the Boston Celtics back to the NBA Finals, where losses and wins divide the court.
The Formula:
01
Perseverance
02
creativity
click to view
click to view
03
purpose
01
Perseverance
02
creativity
click to view
click to view
03
purpose
learn more
back to top
DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Tres Generaciones® Tequila, 40% alc./vol.
©2022 Sauza Tequila Import Company, Chicago, IL.
Although it’s better to brave these outcomes as a teammate, Smart’s journey has taught him that confidence and imagination are tools he must equip on his own terms. “My formula for creativity, I would probably have to say, is to be selfish,” Smart reflects. “You have to be selfish. If it’s something that’s important to you and it means a lot to you, people probably won’t understand what you have, and it’s not meant for them to understand. As long as you get it, that’s all that matters. Be selfish and be confident. You definitely gotta put in hard work — whatever you’re doing, you definitely gotta put in work.”
Although it’s better to brave these outcomes as a teammate, Smart’s journey has taught him that confidence and imagination are tools he must equip on his own terms. “My formula for creativity, I would probably have to say, is to be selfish,” Smart reflects. “You have to be selfish. If it’s something that’s important to you and it means a lot to you, people probably won’t understand what you have, and it’s not meant for them to understand. As long as you get it, that’s all that matters. Be selfish and be confident. You definitely gotta put in hard work — whatever you’re doing, you definitely gotta put in work.”