'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Boston Celtics dispatched Kyrie Irving's Dallas Mavericks 106-88 during Monday's Game 5 NBA Finals matchup, winning the series 4-1. Upon Boston securing its historic 18th title, Celtics fans took to the streets to celebrate, breaking into anti-Irving chants. Their lack of class elicited harsh reactions from fellow NBA fans.
After being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Boston in 2017, Irving was tasked with helping a then-up-and-coming Celtics squad fulfill its title aspirations. However, after missing the 2018 playoffs due to a left knee injury, Irving only appeared in one postseason run with Boston.
The Irving-led Celtics made the 2019 playoffs' second round, losing in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. Afterward, Irving jumped ship to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 free agency despite previously expressing a desire to remain with Boston long-term.
Trending
Celtics fans seemingly never moved past the eight-time All-Star's abrupt departure, as they regularly heckled and booed him throughout this year's finals. They continued doing so on Monday, one day after Irving opened up about getting traded to Boston not being one of his preferred "options" in 2017.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
In a viral clip, Celtics fans can be seen and heard jumping and chanting, "F**k Kyrie" in the streets of Boston.
NBA fans on X/Twitter promptly blasted Celtics fans, with many crowning them the league's worst fanbase.
"Worst fanbase to grace this earth," @LandOfPG said.
"Worst fans in the world," @jbondwagon said.
"Corny till the end," @DivvyBet said.
Meanwhile, others questioned why Irving was still on Boston fans' minds after their team secured the title.
"They just won the chip and Kyrie is still in their heads," @JuniorGotNext said.
"Won a championship and still obsessed," @DubsBetterrr said.
"Just won the finals and thinking about Kyrie," @BrewPack8 said.
Kyrie Irving pays respects to Celtics following Mavericks' Game 5 loss
Boston fans may still not be fond of Kyrie Irving. However, there doesn't appear to be any bad blood between him and his former team. In the closing minutes of Game 5, Irving approached the Celtics' bench to congratulate them on their championship win.
Afterward, he credited Boston for being a deserving champion.
"We finally ran into a team where they beat us fair and square, and we weren't able to respond to a lot of their runs and we weren't able to execute at a high level," Irving said. "So, when I was shaking everybody's hands, that was more of a sign of respect for their journey."
Irving struggled offensively in Game 5, tallying only 15 points on 5-for-16 (31.3%) shooting. That dropped his series average to 19.8 points per game on 41.4% shooting over five contests.
Nonetheless, most would probably agree that Irving proved many of his doubters wrong throughout the Mavericks' unexpected finals run. He showed he could still be a secondary scoring option on a title contender, averaging 22.1 ppg on 46.7% shooting over 22 postseason outings.
