Kyrie Irving was booed once more by Boston Celtics fans on yet another return to the TD Garden. The Brooklyn Nets guard compares his relationship with his former team’s fans to his relationship with a former partner.
“I know it’s going to be like that for the rest of my career,” Irving said following being greeted unkindly by home fans at the Nets game in Boston: “It’s like the scorned ex-girlfriend who wants an explanation of why I left her and I’m still waiting for an answer.”
“It was fun when I was there. The truth is I’m very grateful for my time in Boston,” added Irving, who scored 19 points on 8/18 from the field: “Everyone in the front office, everyone on the team treated me well. I still have relationships in the league that are like brotherhoods to us and we continue to be very close friends.”
Irving’s teammate Kevin Durant shone with 37 points, but was even trumped by Boston’s Jayson Tatum, who put 54 points (8 threes) on the scoreboard and thus led the Celtics to victory (126:120).
At the press conference that followed, Irving paid tribute to the core of the Celtics around Tatum and Jaylen Brown and emphasized how the players, whom he saw as “puppies” at the time, had grown together.
Big Baby with a warning to Irving
The last time the Celtics and Nets met in Boston was in the playoffs last season, when Irving was pelted with a water bottle by a fan on his way to the Catacombs following his team’s win. Irving had previously stomped on the Celtics’ logo , which infuriated the crowd in Boston.
Former Celtic Glen “Big Baby” Davis was on the sidelines for yesterday’s game with a “Respect the logo” t-shirt printed on it, a clear message to Irving.
Irving is unvaccinated and thus not allowed to play under New York law, which is why he is currently limited to his team’s away games. In 15 games this season, the 29-year-old has averaged 25.1 points and 5.3 assists per game, 45.9 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three-pointers and 91.9 percent from the free-throw line.
