Kyrie Irving, after the Dallas Mavericks’ loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, demonstrated a notable act of sportsmanship by shaking hands with the Celtics players. Reflecting on this gesture, Irving explained that it was a sign of respect for their journey and achievements.
“Yeah, it was emotional, anyway. I mean, every series was emotional, just because I was just uncertain on how it was going to go and how we were going to respond to a little bit of adversity.”
“We finally ran into a team where they beat us fair and square, and we weren’t able to respond to a lot of their runs and we weren’t able to execute at a high level. So when I was shaking everybody’s hands, that was more of a sign of respect for their journey.”
“They have been through an incredible five-year span of going to Game 7s or losing in the Finals, so they know what this bitter feeling feels like being up here answer answering questions about when this next year holds and I think they used everything as motivation.”
“They were healthy, and they really kept their head down and weren’t paying attention to any of the personal accolades or individual accolades. I think they just came together as a team and were okay with each person being great in their role and selflessly putting their best foot forward.”
“So I think we learned more than anything from this series on what it takes to not only get back to this level, but win at this level, and the Celtics are the perfect example for us this season because of how much they have had to deal with in the past few years.” (3:34)
Irving acknowledged the emotional intensity of each playoff series, particularly the uncertainty and adversity faced by his team. He noted that the Celtics outplayed the Mavericks fairly, executing their game plan effectively and capitalizing on key moments. This acknowledgment of the Celtics’ superior performance was a testament to Irving’s respect for their journey and growth over the past five years.
Irving had a challenging Finals series, averaging 19.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1% from the field and 27.5% from three-point range. The Celtics’ defense was particularly focused on shutting down Irving and Luka Doncic, and they executed this strategy effectively despite Irving’s renowned skills. This defensive focus contributed significantly to Boston’s success in the series.
The Celtics had endured numerous challenges, including multiple Game 7s and previous Finals losses, which had hardened them for this moment. Irving emphasized that his gesture was a recognition of their resilience and dedication. The Celtics’ ability to stay focused on team success rather than individual accolades was something Irving admired and hoped his own team could emulate.
Irving’s act of shaking hands with his former teammates, including Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, symbolized a full-circle moment. Despite the boos and hostility from Celtics fans due to his departure in 2019, Irving chose to honor the Celtics’ achievements. He praised their collective effort and highlighted the importance of each player embracing their role for the greater good of the team.
Classy move by Kyrie Irving 🙏
(🎥 @BenGolliver) pic.twitter.com/U210RwXvdy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 18, 2024
The Celtics’ victory, their 18th NBA championship, was a culmination of years of hard work and overcoming adversity. Irving, who had been part of the Celtics’ journey, acknowledged their growth and expressed his admiration for how they handled past disappointments to achieve success.
Irving also shared his hope that the Mavericks could learn from this experience and grow stronger as a team. He expressed motivation to return to this stage with his teammates and compete for a championship in the future.
Irving’s gesture of shaking hands with the Celtics players was a significant sign of respect, recognizing their journey and the lessons both teams can learn from this series. It underscored the importance of sportsmanship and the shared respect among competitors in the NBA.
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