BOSTON — Clearly in a better place, playing and feeling more comfortable, than he did during his disastrous season in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving says he’ll take a contemplative approach to the hostility he expects from the Celtics crowd in Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday.
“You just have to breathe and get through it,” Irving said. [younger players] Those of you who are dealing with the crowd’s reaction and what they’re saying to you, you have to stay calm and realize it’s not as hostile as you think it is. Don’t overthink it.”
Things were different for the Nets the season immediately following Irving’s departure from Boston in free agency.
At the time, Irving provoked the Beantown crowd by stomping on a leprechaun in center of the court, lighting sage around the sidelines, giving fans the middle finger and suggesting racism in Boston was a factor.
While some of the anger may have subsided over time, there’s no question that Irving is Public Enemy No. 1 at TD Garden.
He intends to use that malice as a weapon.
“I’ve been able to get past that and understand it was anxiety and nerves and you can turn it all into an advantage,” Irving said. “There’s no fear here. It’s basketball. The fans are going to say what they want to say and I appreciate them and the relationship they have with the game, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the players.”
Boston is one of the most hostile NBA arenas with a long history of making opponents uncomfortable.
Celtics fan Cole Buckley threw a water bottle at Irving during a 2021 game.
He was arrested.
Current Mavericks coach Jason Kidd once said his family was harassed by Celtics fans during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals.
At the time, Kidd was a star point guard for the New Jersey Nets and was the target of “wife abuser” calls during games.
His young son TJ and then-wife Jumana were jeered at in the arena.
“That bothers me. I can’t guard them,” Kidd said in 2002. “I’m worried about them, but I’m also worried about winning games.”
“You can’t do that to someone’s family and put their safety at risk. They’re here to enjoy the game. [Celtics fans] did.”
Luka Doncic is also expecting an enthusiastic crowd.
“The crowd is so loud. Everybody knows that. That’s what they’re known for,” Doncic said. “It’s tough to play here. The support they get from the crowd for their team is amazing. All I can say is we’ve got to stick together. We’re going to go up against them.”
