Kendrick Perkins has a blunt message for Boston Celtics fans: leave Kyrie Irving alone. With the NBA Finals approaching, featuring a clash between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, the animosity toward Irving from Boston fans is expected to reach a fever pitch. Perkins made his point clear during an appearance on “NBA Today.”
“But I will offer some advice to the fan base of the Celtics, and that’s to leave him the hell alone, okay? Leave him alone because you’re not the ones that have to go between those lines and actually guard this man.”
“Right now, Kyrie Irving has been in the zone, and it’s no Batman and Robin on this Dallas Mavericks team. It’s a Batman and it’s a Superman. Both of those guys are the leader of this team, and both of those guys on any given night, between him and Luka could be the best player on the floor.”
“I have a quick story real quick. I was with the New Orleans Pelicans. We were playing the Cleveland Cavaliers when LeBron was there. And it was a close game down towards the end of the game.”
“And I remember a fan yelling out something at LeBron James. And Coach Alvin Gentry, he turned around. He said, hey, man, shut up, shut up. Don’t say nothing to him.”
“We do not need to get him going for the simple fact that you do not have to guard him. And that’s the same advice I’m giving to the Boston fans. You can go on before it’s taking it over the top, Leave that man alone.”
"But I will offer some advice to the fanbase of the Celtics, and that's to leave [Kyrie Irving] the hell alone… You're not the ones that have to go between those lines and actually guard this man."
— Kendrick Perkins 😂
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/VIJBZMzMlU
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 4, 2024
He warned Celtics fans against antagonizing Irving, noting that the fiery guard is in exceptional form. Perkins emphasized that while fans might want to vent their frustrations, they should be mindful that it is the players who have to deal with Irving on the court.
Irving has a complicated history with Boston. After playing two seasons with the Celtics from 2017 to 2019, he left the team under controversial circumstances. Despite initially promising to re-sign with Boston, Irving opted to join the Brooklyn Nets in free agency, forming a super team with Kevin Durant and James Harden. This decision left many Celtics fans feeling betrayed.
Irving’s actions have only added fuel to the fire. In a 2021 playoff series, he famously stomped on the Celtics logo at center court, which many fans viewed as a blatant sign of disrespect. The incident escalated when a fan threw a water bottle at him. In 2022, during another playoff series against Boston, Irving responded to relentless heckling by flipping off the crowd.
Perkins acknowledged that Celtics fans would undoubtedly boo Irving, given their history. However, he urged them to avoid going overboard. According to Perkins, inciting Irving could provide him with additional motivation, which could be detrimental to the Celtics’ chances in the Finals.
He highlighted that Irving’s current form poses a significant threat and that unnecessary provocation could elevate his game further.
Irving’s playoff performance has been noteworthy, averaging 22.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. His ability to turn boos and jeers into fuel for his competitive fire is well-documented, making Perkins’ advice particularly relevant.
As the Celtics prepare for a challenging Finals series, focusing on the game rather than antagonizing Irving might be the wiser approach. Irving is a formidable opponent, and Celtics fans would do well to heed Perkins’ advice, letting their team’s performance speak for itself.
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