Kyrie Irving relationship with Boston Celtics fans is notoriously rocky. In 2018, he promised to re-sign with the team, only to join the Brooklyn Nets a year later. His infamous 2021 incident, where he scuffed his shoe on the Celtics’ mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun, further inflamed tensions. During that playoff series, a fan even threw a water bottle at him, resulting in the fan’s arrest. Despite the passage of three years and another playoff series against Boston, the animosity remains, with fans booing him whenever he touches the ball.
“I thought it was going to be a little louder in here.” pic.twitter.com/vfNsxqc2lY
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 7, 2024
After the Dallas Mavericks’ 107-89 loss to the Celtics in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, Irving expressed his disappointment with the TD Garden crowd’s energy. “I thought it was going to be a little louder in here,” he remarked. Reflecting on his history with Boston, Irving noted, “Being in this environment, I’m used to it at this point. Early 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. Now I’m here as a veteran. Over the past few years, just experiencing the playoffs here, even in the regular season, it’s been the same thing.”
Irving mentioned that despite the crowd’s attempts to distract him, he was content with the shots he took, though they didn’t fall in his favor. With 13 playoff games in Boston under his belt, Kyrie Irving is well-acquainted with the potential intensity of Celtics fans. However, without specific decibel readings, it’s challenging to measure the noise level of Game 1 against previous playoff encounters.
Regardless of the volume, the Celtics delivered a dominant performance, securing a crucial victory and moving three wins away from an NBA championship. If Boston’s Game 1 success came with a supposedly subdued crowd, Irving and the Mavericks might face an even tougher challenge in Game 2 if the fans crank up the noise.
Comments