There is no love lost for Kyrie Irving in Boston, and that was very clear Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
The Brooklyn Nets star, who previously spent two seasons with the Celtics, had the boos rain down on him during player introductions and every time he touched the ball throughout a 126-120 Nets loss.
At the end of the game, the crowd even broke into a loud, “Kyrie sucks” chant to which the Nets star could not help but smile when he heard it.
After the loss, Irving was asked about the boos and likened the Celtics to a scorned ex-girlfriend.
“I know it’s going to be like that the rest of my career coming in here,” Irving told reporters. “It’s like the scorned girlfriend who wants an explanation on why I left but still hoping for a text back. I’m just like it was fun while it lasted.”
Irving has long been disliked by Boston ever since his time there came to an unceremonious end despite comments that he had planned to re-sign with the team, as well as other issues.
It was also Irving’s first game back in Boston since the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last year when a fan threw a water bottle at him as he left the court.
Prior to the incident, Irving appeared to stomp on the Celtics’ logo, which some, like Kevin Garnett, took issue with and found disrespectful.
Former Celtic Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis was even seen at Sunday’s game wearing a “Respect the Logo” T-shirt, in reference to the situation.
While the Nets and Celtics do not meet again the rest of the season, it’s possible Irving could find himself back in Boston should the two teams meet in the playoffs, which the Nets are barely hanging onto as they enter the final month of the season.
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