When Kyrie Irving stomped on the Celtics logo in 2021, few would have predicted the trajectory of his career over the next few years. But perhaps he was destined to join the Mavericks, as prominent NBA social media figure Rob Perez pointed out that the Mavericks logo was right behind Irving when he stomped on the Celtics logo, with the word ‘Next’.
the background when kyrie stepped on the celtics logo. pic.twitter.com/D9xMiMQkb6
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 31, 2024
Irving infamously stomped on the Celtics logo during the Nets’ first-round series in 2021. It was his first playoff series against the Celtics since leaving them and joining the Nets in 2019. Due to injuries in his first season, and the COVID-19 pandemic limiting audiences in his second season, this was the first time Irving played in front of Celtic fans since leaving. He also made sure to let fans know how he felt about the franchise with the stomp.
Irving and the Celtics have an interesting history. Kyrie got traded to the Celtics in 2017, looking to be the leader of a team after playing with LeBron James. He played for them for two seasons and even reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018. But he shockingly left the Celtics in 2019 to join the Nets, after he had promised to re-sign with the Celtics.
Irving was still a great player when he played for the Celtics, averaging 24.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.4 rebounds during his two seasons with the historic franchise. But his controversial exit soured fans on him.
The Celtics fanbase never forgave Irving for leaving and consistently berated him when he played in their arena. Irving, not one to back down, responds with equally hostile energy whenever playing in front of Celtic fans. Here is a quick glimpse at the exchanges between Celtic fans and Kyrie Irving.
KYRIE IRVING VS. BOSTON CELTICS NBA FINALS. 🍿🔥
(🎥 @esidery)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 31, 2024
Irving could have the chance to get the last laugh over the Celtics, now that he and the Mavericks will be playing against them in the NBA Finals starting next week. For Irving, he will find extra motivation playing in front of a fanbase that despises him, wanting to show them why they should not disrespect him.
Can Kyrie Irving Win His Second NBA Championship?
Kyrie Irving has turned his career around since joining the Mavericks. But with the looming specter of the Celtics still over his shoulder, fans wondered what Irving’s thoughts were about playing against his former team. Speaking to Ernie Johnson, Irving kept things civil, noting that his former team is just in the way.
“Boston is in the way between our goal, so that’s it.”
Kyrie: "Boston is in the way between our goal." 🍿 pic.twitter.com/LqsCW0PxnV
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 31, 2024
Unlike previous times, Irving chose to be respectful toward his former franchise when speaking about his time there, noting how difficult the stint was on his family, and how he could have handled things differently. Irving looked forward to playing against his former franchise.
“I am at a place in my life where I don’t consider those past moments. I was able to unpack them in a healthy way, move forward as a person. I had a rough time there when I was in Boston, just dealing with a death in my family and off-court stuff I wasn’t ready to handle.”
“Now that I am in a great place to be able to vocalize how I’m feeling, I’m ready to go back into Boston and have fun with my teammates. I know we’re going to be locked in and we’re going against a great Boston team that has earned their way to the NBA Finals. I see them as a formidable opponent, an honest opponent, and we’re going to see the best team win.”
Perhaps Irving’s positive outlook toward the Celtics will change when he plays against them in the NBA Finals. Celtic fans will know how dangerous Irving can be in the NBA Finals, as he is the most experienced player on the court when it comes to playing in the Finals.
In his three appearances in the Finals, Irving has averaged 27.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. Irving made one of the greatest clutch shots in history when he made a three to give the Cavaliers a three-point lead in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, which led them to win the NBA championship.
Irving will need to play at a similar level for the Mavericks to become an NBA champion once again. His stellar play was a big factor in the Mavericks making the finals, but he needs to be even better to win a chip.
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