Kyrie Irving has blunt comment about facing Celtics in Finals

Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving is getting set to face his former team in the NBA Finals, but the Dallas Mavericks star does not seem like he is going to play up the revenge angle ahead of the series.

The Mavericks advanced to the NBA Finals with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night. Irving and Luka Doncic led the way for Dallas with 36 points each. During the postgame celebration, TNT’s Ernie Johnson asked Irving if the star point guard is looking forward to returning to Boston to face the Celtics.

Irving had a very simple response.

“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Boston’s in the way in between our goal, so that’s it man,” Irving said.

Kyrie Irving is looking forward to facing the Celtics in the Finals. 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/kMUms7CduG

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 31, 2024

That was clearly Irving’s way of trying to downplay what will be the best storyline of the Finals.

Irving spent two seasons in Boston from 2017 to 2019, and it did not go well. He openly said he planned to re-sign with the team before leaving to join Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets. The relationship between Irving and Celtics fans has since been tenuous, to say the least.

The last time Irving faced the Celtics in the playoffs, he disrespected his former team’s logo on the court at TD Garden. Irving then had a water bottle thrown at him.

Celtics fans have already made it clear with a vulgar chant that they are excited for their team to face Irving again. Even if he is unwilling to admit it, Irving must have added motivation heading into the series.