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[Saba Sports News] Kyrie Irving’s past playoff encounters with the Boston Celtics were filled with mutual hostility. However, Irving indicated on Monday that we should expect a different approach from him in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Irving admitted he regrets how he handled those previous playoff meetings. While playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2021 and 2022 playoffs, he cursed at fans and made obscene gestures. Irving said he has since grown and learned to control his emotions better.
“I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best — not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit — that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level,” Irving said, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you.
“I’m built for these moments, to be able to handle circumstances like that, and I’ve been able to grow since then. So of course it’s going to be a hectic environment, but I’m looking forward to it and I see it as a healthy relationship that I have with the fans. I almost think about ‘Gladiator,’ just winning the crowd over. It is good to hear the TD Garden silent when you’re playing well. They still respect great basketball.”
Irving’s interactions with Celtics fans were a major story during those past meetings, with Boston fans often crossing the line. In 2022, Irving said he was just giving back the same energy, but he now seems ready to take a different approach for the NBA Finals.
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