Kyrie Irving says he’s holding on to ‘the same energy’ as the fans with his middle finger in front of the Boston Celtics crowd

BOSTON – brooklyn network guard Kyrie Irving said he was responding to words he heard from the crowd when he ignored some Boston Celtics fans on two separate occasions on Sunday 115-114 lost in game 1.

After the match, Irving made it clear that he would have “the same energy for them” that they had for him.

“Look, where do I come from, I’m used to these antics and the people around,” Irving said after scoring a top 39 in 42 minutes. “There’s nothing new when I walk into this building, what it’s going to be like – but that’s the energy they have for me, I’ll have the same energy for them as well.

“And not every fan, I don’t want to attack every fan, every Boston fan. When people start shouting ‘p — y’ or ‘b —-‘ and ‘f’ — you’ and all this, only but so many of you see as a competitor. We as people are expected to be docile and humble, take a humble approach, f — that, that’s the knockout. It’s like this.”

Irving, who played for Boston for two seasons from 2017 to 2019, said he has gotten used to being booed by Celtics fans since leaving the organization after the 2018-19 season. Irving has faced more anger from the fan base after a number of recent exchanges over the past few years.

Before the 2018-19 season, Irving said he wanted to sign a long-term contract with the Celtics, change course only at the end of the season, and leave for the Nets. Last season, Irving stepped on the Celtics logo in center court after game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Celtics and was then hurled at him by someone in the crowd as he was just off the floor.

In the week before that game, Irving also said that yes “subtle racism” from the crowd sometimesadmitted that he heard some racist comments in TD Garden.

“I know what to expect here,” Irving said after Sunday’s game. “And that’s also the energy that I’m giving back to them. It’s what it is. I don’t really focus on it, it’s fun, you know what I’m talking about? Where do I come from, I was used to deal with a lot, so come here you will like it as a competitor. … This is not my first time going to TD Garden so what you guys saw, you guys think is entertainment , or what fans think is entertainment, all are fair in competition.

“So if someone calls my name, I’ll look them in the eye and see if they really mean it. Most of the time I don’t.”

Irving, who has been booed throughout the day, except when a reporter asked about “hostility” from the Boston crowd – noted that this is not the first time he has tortured a fan in a match.

“It’s the first time you actually catch it because it’s a big game,” Irving said. “I answer in different ways. I’m not trying to focus on that. If you want to ask me questions about the fans, ask them. Go down the street and ask them questions.”

When asked if the “energy” from the Boston crowd brought out the best in his game, Irving was quick to respond.

“Embrace it,” Irving said. “Embrace it. It’s the dark side. Embrace it.”

Irving’s teammates and coaches are confident that Irving will play at his best in an environment like this.

Nets coach Steve Nash said: “Here’s a guy who brilliantly won the Finals. “He competed in the Olympics. He played in the All-Star Game, the All-Star Game on an empty night. I don’t think crowds are a factor for Kyrie. This guy has done it all. whatever you can do in the game.”

“I don’t think he’s worried about it,” Nets star forward Kevin Durant more. “I think he just played his game and did what was necessary. And tonight the creation of the shot, just controlling the game for us, was unbelievable. And that’s what we did. will need forward – so where is he now, I think he’s also a player.”

Did Durant get a feel for the fans who crossed the line on Sunday?

“I wasn’t really focused on the fans,” Durant said. “We know they’ll show and support their team, but we know they’ll let Kyrie hear that as much as possible. It’s like that. It’s part of sport.”

After the early March loss to the Celtics, Irving comparing Boston fans to a “despised girlfriend”, and has reiterated leading the series that he feels it’s time for fans to move on to their brief tenure in Boston. He was asked after Sunday’s game if he felt it could happen now.

“Not interested at this point,” Irving said. “Come to the series and talk about our assets and how we can get better. I won’t focus on the past with Boston. I’m at the Brooklyn Nets. I’m happy to be with my teammates. and play there.”