Kyrie Irving Addresses Giving Celtics Fans the Middle Finger

The Nets star said he would “have the same energy for them” when referring to the crowd.

After Sunday’s 115–114 loss to the Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, Nets point guard Kyrie Irving addressed several interactions he had with Boston fans during the game. Irving played for Boston from 2017 to 2019 before leaving for Brooklyn in free agency. 

There were several instances caught on camera where Irving flipped Celtics fans the middle finger, and he was caught on video telling a fan “suck my d--- b----.”

“I’mma have the same energy for them,” he said. “And it’s not every fan, I don’t wanna attack every fan, every Boston fan. When people start yelling p---- or b---- and f--- you and all this stuff, [there’s] just so much you can take.” 

"So if somebody is gonna call me outta my name, I'm gonna look at them straight in the eye and see if they're really bout it. Most of the time, they're not."

–– Kyrie Irving on his interactions with Celtics fanspic.twitter.com/bRMGKnLZj0

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 17, 2022

Irving also stressed how athletes are the ones who have to remain “humble” and “docile,” but he was clear that he would do no such thing. He added, “I’mma look at them straight in the eyes and see if they’re really ‘bout it. Most of the time they’re not.”

In a follow-up question, Irving went back and forth with a reporter because Irving didn’t want to answer any more questions about his interactions with fans. He refused to label the environment as hostile, and when the reporter said this is the first time Irving has flipped off fans during a game, the star guard said, “This the first time you actually caught it because it’s a big-time game.” 

Kyrie Irving on the energy from Celtics fans:

"Embrace it. It's the dark side. Embrace it." pic.twitter.com/XKIwCyqSj1

— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) April 17, 2022

The drama started in the third quarter when Irving appeared to give the finger to fans after making a shot, but in a clip of the moment it’s unclear whether he raised his index or middle finger. However, he clearly gave fans the double birds in the fourth quarter and was caught on video. 

Kyrie hits the bucket and salutes Celtics fans 😬 #NetsWorld https://t.co/clG9MvkmRy

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 17, 2022

pic.twitter.com/FCw7E0BTGs

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 17, 2022

“You guys like my haircut??” https://t.co/7KxvLkxmcc

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) April 17, 2022

The former Celtics point guard could get a hefty fine coming his way. It’s not the first time this season he’s gotten into it with fans of a former team, though. Irving was fined $25,000 in January after he was recorded telling a Cavaliers fan, “Got y’all a championship, mother------s still ungrateful.”