Josh Hart averaged 4.1 assists per contest in the NBA last season, and just dished out another one to Chelsea fans, as he donated nearly $2,500 to a fan group to help fund banners for fan favorites Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta.
The JustGiving campaign started by the group We Are The Shed set a target of about $3,845 to produce the displays of the defenders, with the group saying they plan on recognizing captain Azpilicueta towards the end of the season.
Meanwhile, James’ banner is set to be about 69 feet by 49 feet according to the crowdfunding post.
Hart left the donation with the message ‘Keep the Blue Flag Flying High’
He’s a massive Chelsea fan and seems to have struck up a friendship with Mason Mount
Hart – under the username JHart on the site – subtly left the donation with a simple message: KTPFFH, or ‘Keep the Blue Flag Flying High.’
The Portland Trail Blazers guard is a known and outspoken Chelsea fan, often musing on the team on Twitter and sharing his support for Blues midfielder Mason Mount.
The pair snapped a photo together at Stamford Bridge in May, and earlier that month he tweeted, ‘Is there anything better than watching Mason Mount play football?’
But their relationship seems to go back even further, with Mount donning his jersey back in July 2020.
The JustGiving post easily reached its target after Hart chipped in with a hefty donation
Hart has also met with Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic on at least one occasion, and had ex-Blues striker Romelu Lukaku on his podcast in 2019.
The Villanova alum has kept up with Chelsea since then, criticizing referee Anthony Taylor for his non-call on Cristian Romero’s hair pull of Marc Cucurella in the 2-2 draw with Spurs on August 14.
The next day, he used Darwin Nunez’s red card for Liverpool as another excuse to bring the initial incident up.
Hart visited Stamford Bridge in 2019 and met with winger Christian Pulisic
‘In the @premierleague you cant head butt….he should have just pulled his hair,’ Hart cracked on Twitter.
‘He wouldn’t have got anything.’
Chelsea are 12th in the Premier League after three games with four points.