In a surprising turn of events, Kyrie Irving, former Celtics star, expressed mild disappointment with the reception from Boston fans during Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Despite his storied history with the Celtics, Irving struggled on the court, facing a barrage of boos and jeers from the home crowd. Kyrie finished the game with just 12 points on 6-for-19 shooting.
After the game, Irving shared his perspective on the atmosphere, noting, “It’s just basketball at the end of the day. 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, be settled with a veteran group.
“Now I’m here as the veteran. Over that past few years just experience the playoffs here, even regular season it’s been the same thing.”
Reflecting on his return to Boston, Irving acknowledged the subdued atmosphere in the arena, expressing his anticipation for a more intense environment.
“I thought it was going to be a little louder in here. But I’m expecting the same things going into Game 2, crowd trying to get me out of my element, my teammates out of my element,” he continued.
He emphasized the need to maintain focus amidst the distractions, stating, “The energy got to be focused towards the game.”
Acknowledging the hostile reception, Irving remained focused on the game at hand, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidence and composure.
“I felt like I had a lot of great looks, they hit back rim or they were just a little left or right,” he said. “So I just got to stay confident and stay poised throughout this, man.
“This is the best time of the year to be playing. It’s only two teams left. Let’s put it in perspective. The environment is going to be what it is, but my focus is on our game plan and making sure my guys feel confident and I feel confident and continue to shoot great shots.”
