In the NBA, we often see players end up switching teams, whether it is due to getting traded by their franchise or their own decision to leave in free agency. There’s a fair number of stars that are well-received upon their return to their former cities, but there are also times when players gett booed and heckled when returning.
One of those players is Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving is generally heckled and booed when he returns to play against the Boston Celtics, and that happened during Game 1 of the Celtics-Nets series.
Kevin Durant has recently provided a perspective on “being the guy who the entire wants to fail”. Durant claimed that the booing is “rooted in love”, and pointed out that fans “feel like a piece of them is gone too” when the experience of watching a player is “ripped from them”. (1:15)
Its rooted in love. They once loved you, cheered for you & bought your merchandise, had life altering experiences coming to games watching you play. When it gets ripped from them…they feel like a piece of them is gone too. It’s an emotional attachment that they have to professional sports. It’s a gift and a curse… It shows that people care, and that people have emotions.
Kevin Durant definitely has some experience with that. He once left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors in free agency. He has been booed by Thunder fans after leaving the team, and many thought that he should have stayed and tried to win a championship with the franchise. A lot of fans are passionate about the game, and it’s easy to see how a player leaving their team could affect how they feel. With that being said, offensive language or gestures shouldn’t be tolerated, and if a fan were to do something like that, then it is unacceptable.
As of now, Kevin Durant’s focus is likely on trying to get Game 2 on the road against the Boston Celtics. Even beyond the Kyrie Irving factor, the Celtics’ home arena is known for having a loud and rowdy atmosphere, which is tough for a lot of road players to play in. However, it is quite likely that Kevin Durant will be able to drown out the noise, and perhaps we do end up seeing the Nets steal a game on the road next time they play the Celtics.
