Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving was fined $50,000 by the NBA for his obscene gesture toward the TD Garden stands in Game 1 of the playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
Irving, who violated the league’s code of conduct, gave fans in Celtics Stadium the middle finger after converting a jump shot in the third quarter. The video of the moment traveled through social networks, going viral and showing the bad relationship that the player has with the fans of his former team.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/KpNRX6alBg
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 19, 2022
“The same energy they have for me, I’m going to have for them,” Irving said after the game. “And it’s not all the fans. I don’t want to attack all the Boston fans, but when people start yelling stupid stuff, there’s a limit. We’re expected to be meek and humble, but to hell with all that. These are the playoffs.” .
Irving played for the Celtics for two seasons, averaging 24.1 points per game, 6.1 assists and 48% shooting from the field. Despite his performance, Kyrie was never liked in Boston. In the first game of the series he scored 39 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and distributed 6 assists.
“Hopefully we can move on and Boston will look back on what I did for the team,” Irving said before the series. Apparently, the rancor of the fans lives on.
