The Brooklyn Nets have recently lost to the Boston Celtics, despite a standout performance from star point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving put up 39 points during the game, and genuinely looked unstoppable at time.
Aside from his performance, Kyrie Irving also drew attention from the media for an incident that happened during the game. The point guard was caught on camera seemingly giving a Celtics fan the middle finger.
After the game, Kyrie Irving was asked about the incident. Irving explained why he did what he did, claiming that he was just “giving back” the fans the same energy they have shown to him.
Kyrie. 🗣🗣
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 17, 2022
Where I’m from, I’m used to all these antics, people being close nearby. It’s nothing new when I come into this building, what it’s going to be like. But it’s the same energy they have for me, and I’m going to have the same energy for them. It’s not every fan, I don’t want to attack every fan, every Boston fan. When people start yelling p***y and b***h and f*** you… there’s only so much you can take as a competitior.
We’re the ones expected to be docile, and be humble, and take the humble approach. Nah, f**k that, it’s the playoffs. This is what it is. I know what to expect in here, and that’s the same energy I’m giving back to them… I’m not really focused on it, it’s fun… All is fair in competition. So if somebody is going to call me out on my name, I’m going to look at them straight in the eye and see if they’re really about it. Most of the time they’re not.
Kyrie Irving used to play for the Boston Celtics, and there’s no doubt that the relationship between him and the fans isn’t the best. Kyrie Irving has done some things that Celtics fans have found disrespectful in the past, such as stomping on the team’s logo at TD Garden after a good performance.
As far as the series between the Celtics and Nets goes, we’ll have to wait to see who will end up coming out on top. If this game is any indication, it should be a long and exciting series.
