Kyrie Irving had a first-hand experience of how Philadelphia 76ers fans could play a part in getting under the players’ skins.
The Nets were edged out 137-133 despite Irving’s 30-point game coupled with 2 rebounds and 10 assists, but the fans had the last laugh and mocked the guard despite him giving the fans in the stands a bit of trash-talking.
The 30-year-old was seen exchanging words with a fan in a video that did the rounds on social media, and it was clear that the fan was not the one to back down.
Kyrie Irving and this 76ers fan getting into it during this inbound play 🍿pic.twitter.com/xGiLBr2kMg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 26, 2023
Kyrie Irving and this 76ers fan getting into it during this inbound play
From the clip, it is unclear what the fan said to Irving to rile him up. But the expression on his face shows that he had let the fan get the better of him, and he let him know it. Pity that Irving couldn’t respond back with a win to silence the Sixers fans. But we bet a payback is in the offing.
Kyrie Irving Gets Real On Stepping Up In Kevin Durant’s Absence
Despite Irving’s good run, the Nets saw a bit of a struggle after their stellar run in December last year. With Kevin Durant sidelined due to an MCL sprain, the onus is on the guard to deliver, and the numbers don’t lie — he’s doing all he can.
And while the results aren’t necessarily in his favor, Irving isn’t one to back down or focus on being the team’s messiah. He believed it was a team sport, and what mattered was the team winning games. Speaking to the media earlier this month:
“I told you guys that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to be the first option or the second option or the main one. This is just a message for everybody at home: first option, the second option, third option, they don’t f*****g matter to me. It doesn’t matter who has the ball in their hands as long as they’re being aggressive, and it’s the best shot for our team.
The objective of this team sport is to win basketball games; not identify one person to carry everybody every single night. Some nights it’s gonna occur like that or seems like that. For me, it’s the team attitude, team atmosphere, and living the results with us playing together and collectively.”
The Nets are primed to make the playoffs and are one of the teams looking to go the distance this season. With Durant set to return before the All-Star break, they will look to further consolidate their position as one of the teams in the Top five in the East.
Brooklyn plays the Detroit Pistons next, followed by a skirmish against the New York Knicks.
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