Kyrie Irving has more questionable comments about Celtics fans

Feb 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) controls the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving offered some more comments about the Boston Celtics and their fans that likely will not go down well.

Irving on Sunday compared the Celtics to a “cult” and suggested his chilly relationship with the fans stems from his failure to show proper respect for the history and tradition associated with the franchise.

“That’s what they expect you to do as a player — they expect you to seamlessly buy into the Celtics pride, buy into everything Celtics, and if you don’t, you’ll be outed,” Irving said, via Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “I’m one of the people that’s on the outs. … I did it to myself. They don’t welcome me with a warm embrace.”

On one hand, Irving’s comments sound negative. On the other, he does not even seem to mean them that way, and openly admitted that he should have done more to embrace the history of the Celtics when he was there. His comments about how he “did it to myself” certainly suggest some regrets, which he alluded to earlier in the series.

Of course, a much simpler explanation for the Celtics’ fans hatred of Irving is probably that he verbally pledged to re-sign with the team and then did not do it. Irving was not unpopular during his time with the Celtics, and that is where the animosity really started. Regardless, these latest comments, however they were intended, are not going to placate anyone in Boston.