In the aftermath of the Mavericks‘ defeat in Game 1, 2016 NBA champion Kyrie Irving spoke on the energy from the hostile crowd. As a former Celtic himself, who left the team after demanding a trade, Irving was booed throughout the night and he says it was ineffective at getting under his skin.
“It’s basketball at the end of the day. Being in this environment, I’m used to it at this point,” said Irving via Tomer Azarly. “Earlier in my career, there was a different relationship that I had with Boston. Just being able to come here and be settled with a veteran group and now I’m here as a veteran. Over the past few years here and in the regular season, I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here. I expect the same things going into Game 2.”
“It’s basketball at the end of the day. Being in this environment, I’m used to it at this point. Earlier in my career, there was a different relationship that I had with Boston… I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here.”
Kyrie Irving on the environment and Celtics… pic.twitter.com/z1nJpYc1hR
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 7, 2024
Irving, 32, played with the Celtics for two seasons. In 127 total games with the franchise, he averaged 24.1 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game on 48% shooting. Together, with two-way swingman Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward, Irving was expected to lead the Celtics to their 17th championship.
Instead, he sowed toxicity from the inside and helped tear apart a young and inexperienced locker room. Irving then left the Celtics without a second though, even after promising to stay, and the fans there never truly lived it down.
Every time that Kyrie comes back to town, he hears some noise from the crowd but it’s what the 8x All-Star has come to expect after burning so many bridges on his way out. The only way to respond now is to regroup for Game 2 and give them a show that they will never forget.
Celtics Fans Are Beating Up A Kyrie Irving Blow-Up Doll
As one of the most storied and successful franchises in sports history, the Celtics have a massive following and their fans are known for being notoriously ruthless. In the case of Irving, who they see as a traitor, he was easy pickings tonight after scoring just 12 points in the loss.
After the buzzer, with a final score of 107-89 (in favor of the Celtics) fans were caught carrying a makeshift blow-up doll dressed as Kyrie which they tossed around for people to “beat up.”
Celtics fans brought a blow up doll with Kyrie Irving’s face on it, chanting “f— Kyrie! f— Kyrie!” and tossing the doll around and beating it up. pic.twitter.com/uDQ33GDwR0
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) June 7, 2024
Clearly, some Celtics fans are feeling salty over the team’s history with Kyrie Irving (No. 1 overall pick in 2011) and it’s understandable why they’d be upset. Had he stayed all those years ago, they might have won a championship already. Now, with a chance to get revenge, Irving’s haters and naysayers are coming out in droves to witness his downfall.
For the Mavericks to win and avoid digging an early two-game hole, Irving will have to be better than he was in this game and the Mavericks cannot allow 28-year-old big man Kristaps Porzingis or the other role players to go off like he did tonight with 20 points and 6 rebounds on 61% shooting. If he’s able to answer the call, it will be interesting to hear what the Celtics fans will say then, and how they will handle defeat.
For now, Irving and the Mavericks are still on the ropes and they have yet to provide an answer for the Celtics’ arsenal of scorers and shooters. And if they don’t find some life soon, this series could take a turn for the worst.
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