BOSTON — The Boston Celtics fans celebrated their team’s 18th title on Monday night, as they watched the Celtics send Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks home in the NBA Finals. The Celtics dominated the series, with the Mavericks losing all three games at TD Garden.
Irving, who left the Celtics via free agency five years ago, remains a polarizing figure in Boston. His performance during the series did little to mend his relationship with Boston fans. He criticized the Boston crowd after Game 1 and referred to the Celtics’ culture as a “cult” before Game 5. Despite this, Irving showed sportsmanship by congratulating the Celtics on their victory before leaving the court in their title-clinching 108-66 win.
In his post-game comments, Irving expressed respect for the Celtics’ journey to the championship. He acknowledged their growth and perseverance over the past five years, highlighting their ability to come together as a team and focus on collective success rather than individual accolades.
“They were healthy and kept their heads down, focusing on team effort,” Irving said. “We learned a lot from this series about what it takes to compete and win at this level. The Celtics are a perfect example of that.”
Irving also praised former teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for their development and leadership. He commended Brown’s Finals MVP win and acknowledged the duo’s significant contributions to the Celtics’ success.
Reflecting on his own team’s performance, Irving noted the Mavericks’ struggle to respond to the Celtics’ dominance. He emphasized the importance of team cohesion and learning from the experience to improve for future seasons.
Despite the disappointing loss, Irving remains optimistic about the Mavericks’ future. He expressed confidence in Dallas’ potential to become a consistent championship contender and appreciated the growth and learning opportunities from this season.
Boston fans may always hold a grudge against Irving for his departure, but it’s evident that his exit allowed the Celtics to develop their young stars into champions. Irving’s acknowledgment of their success and his commitment to growing with the Mavericks signal his readiness to move forward and compete for future titles.
Kyrie Irving Reflects on NBA Finals Loss to Celtics
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics fans celebrated their team’s 18th title on Monday night, as they watched the Celtics send Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks home in the NBA Finals. The Celtics dominated the series, with the Mavericks losing all three games at TD Garden.
Irving, who left the Celtics via free agency five years ago, remains a polarizing figure in Boston. His performance during the series did little to mend his relationship with Boston fans. He criticized the Boston crowd after Game 1 and referred to the Celtics’ culture as a “cult” before Game 5. Despite this, Irving showed sportsmanship by congratulating the Celtics on their victory before leaving the court in their title-clinching 108-66 win.
In his post-game comments, Irving expressed respect for the Celtics’ journey to the championship. He acknowledged their growth and perseverance over the past five years, highlighting their ability to come together as a team and focus on collective success rather than individual accolades.
“They were healthy and kept their heads down, focusing on team effort,” Irving said. “We learned a lot from this series about what it takes to compete and win at this level. The Celtics are a perfect example of that.”
Irving also praised former teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for their development and leadership. He commended Brown’s Finals MVP win and acknowledged the duo’s significant contributions to the Celtics’ success.
Reflecting on his own team’s performance, Irving noted the Mavericks’ struggle to respond to the Celtics’ dominance. He emphasized the importance of team cohesion and learning from the experience to improve for future seasons.
Despite the disappointing loss, Irving remains optimistic about the Mavericks’ future. He expressed confidence in Dallas’ potential to become a consistent championship contender and appreciated the growth and learning opportunities from this season.
Boston fans may always hold a grudge against Irving for his departure, but it’s evident that his exit allowed the Celtics to develop their young stars into champions. Irving’s acknowledgment of their success and his commitment to growing with the Mavericks signal his readiness to move forward and compete for future titles.