‘Mavs Star Rises Above Distasteful Chant from Celtics Fans: ‘Kyrie Sucks!”
The Dallas Mavericks faced a decisive defeat against the Boston Celtics on Friday night, and as expected, the TD Garden crowd harbored lingering animosity towards star point guard Kyrie Irving.
During the game, which ended with a dominant 138-110 victory for the Celtics, the TD Garden spectators consistently booed Irving whenever he had possession of the ball. Adding to this, towards the conclusion of the match, they initiated a loud chant of “Kyrie sucks!”
In the 37 minutes he played, Irving encountered challenges against the Celtics, performing below his usual standards. He concluded the game with 19 points on 9-23 shooting from the field and 1-7 from beyond the arc, accompanied by four rebounds and two assists. Irving had a -15 rating for the night, although most Mavericks, excluding Dante Exum, posted negative plus/minus figures in the box score.
Unlike previous instances where Boston crowds affected Irving, after the game on Friday, the eight-time All-Star took the high road in his post on social media, expressing gratitude for his experiences and emphasizing the need to persevere through challenges.
“Thank you for everything GOD,” Irving shared. “I gotta stay poised and accept all the tests on this journey. The wins, the losses, and the emotional moments are lessons to grow from. No matter what, I gotta keep persevering through the hate; the next generation is watching close.”
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe interviewed Irving about the booing from Celtics fans, and Irving acknowledged their right to express discontent, particularly given his recent record against the team.
“They have a right to boo,” Irving stated. “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.”
Irving, having been with the Mavericks for over a year, has found tranquility, and his mature response suggests positive growth for the team’s future. With the potential demonstrated by the Mavericks, there’s hope for a deep postseason run, providing Irving an opportunity to have the last laugh against the Celtics in June.
