Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics from the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2017. He was expected to lead the Celtics to a championship, along with fellow All-Star Gordon Hayward. However, both Irving and Hayward suffered season-ending injuries, and the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference finals without them in 2018.
In the 2018-19 season, Irving returned to the court and averaged 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game. He also made his sixth All-Star appearance and his second All-NBA team. However, he also faced criticism for his leadership style, his comments to the media, and his inconsistency on the court. The Celtics finished fourth in the East with a 49-33 record, and were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs. Irving shot poorly in the series, making only 30.1 percent of his field goals and 18.8 percent of his three-pointers.
Irving became a free agent in the summer of 2019, and despite telling Celtics fans that he wanted to re-sign with the team, he decided to join the Brooklyn Nets, along with Kevin Durant. Irving cited his desire to return closer to his New Jersey home, and his personal struggles following the death of his grandfather, as the main reasons for his departure. He also admitted that he failed to give his best to the Celtics, and that he learned from his mistakes.
Irving’s returns to Boston have since been met with hostility and resentment from Celtics fans, who have booed him and chanted insults at him whenever he plays at TD Garden. Irving has responded by saying that he hopes he is not subject to racism or discrimination in Boston, and that he respects the Celtics organization and players.
Last night, almost five years after his departure, Irving made his most recent visit to TD Garden… this time, as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
But while his uniform was different to previous visits, the reaction remained the same. Kyrie was booed by Celtics fans and was also met by ‘Kyrie sucks’ chants.
Boston still not loving Kyrie pic.twitter.com/KlsLPtr2dm
— Len Werle (@RealLennyCarlos) March 2, 2024
After the game, Irving was asked about the chants and general resentments towards him by Celtics fans, and revealed that he thinks Celtics fans have the right to boo him:
“They have a right to boo. From my career record against them in the last few games, I haven’t won so until I beat them, they have all the right to continue to boo. I think that’s what makes the theatrics of sports and competitive sports fun. Just gotta embrace it. It’s part of it.”
Kyrie Irving on being booed at TD Garden: “They have a right to boo. From my career record against them in the last few games, I haven’t won so until I beat them, they have all the right to continue to boo. I think that’s what makes the theatrics of sports and competitive sports…
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) March 2, 2024
Kyrie vs Celtics since stomping on Lucky:
0-5 in Boston
1-10 vs Boston overall pic.twitter.com/vXRaDMT5TN— BrickMuse (@BrickMuse) March 2, 2024
