Kyrie Irving Recognizes His Error and Gives Newcomers Who Want to Play for the Celtics Advice

Not just any old former Boston Celtics player, Kyrie Irving is unique. Supporters of Boston embrace their own. Boston fans will adore you if you’ve played for the Celtics and you gave it your all. For Irving, that was not the case.

In 2017, Irving, a standout player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was traded to Boston. Initially, during a gathering with season ticket holders, he was hugged by Celtics supporters. There, he declared that when his contract expired, he intended to re-sign with the team. Two years later, he had left, using his free agency to quickly sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

Now with the Dallas Mavericks, Irving faces elimination in the 2024 NBA Finals as the Mavs trail 3-1 in the series and head to Boston for Game 5 on Monday, June 17. Before Game 5, Irving opened up about his time with the Celtics.

Irving Recognizes His Error While Playing for the Boston Celtics
Since the All-Star point guard left Boston after just two seasons, there hasn’t been much harmony between Irving and the Celtics fan base. Whether right or wrong, Irving took a lot of heat for his inability to step up as the experienced captain of a youthful team captained by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and bring it to the next level.
Since leaving Boston, Irving has been harassed by TD Garden supporters whenever he returns to the city. The Garden is filled with cries of “Kyrie sucks,” and every time he touches the ball, he gets heckled. Irving has obviously had enough; at one point, he was penalized for shoving away Boston supporters during a game.

During a press conference in Boston before Game 5, Irving opened up about his time in Boston, admitting he could’ve done much better.

“When I look back on it, getting traded here, this wasn’t one of my options,” Irving told reporters. “It wasn’t like number one on my list, so when the trade opportunity got approached to me, instead of going back and appreciating the Celtics history, I just came in with an open mind. Just kind of like, I’m just going to go with the flow into this.

“I think that was the wrong approach, just being young. Now that I’m a little older, hindsight looking back on it, I definitely would have taken the time to get to know people within the community, talk to some of the champions that have come before me. Actually, extend myself to them instead of the other way around.

“They have championship pedigree here. They’ve shown it for years. You have to show your respect here, and that’s what I struggled with initially. They expect you to seamlessly buy into the Celtics’ pride, buy into everything Celtics, and if you don’t, then you’ll be outed. I’m one of the people that’s on the outs, and I’m perfectly fine with that.”

Irving Gave Guidance to Future Celtics Draft Picks and Free Agents
Before the Nets moved Irving to the Mavericks in February 2023, Irving spent three complete seasons with the organization. Alongside NBA Finals MVP Luka Doncic, he is leading the Mavs into their second straight NBA Finals.

Even though he’s doing well in Dallas, he’s had to respond to inquiries about his NBA Finals experience in Boston all the time. After his tenure with the Celtics, Irving has grown up. In addition to owning up to his shortcomings, he gave some advice to any prospective free agents or draft picks who might play for Boston.

“Just expect to have a magnifying glass on you wherever you go,” Irving said. “I don’t think Boston appreciates being second class to New York in terms of the media capital of the world, but this is the media capital of the world as well. There’s a lot of history here off the court as well.

“The community is integrated into the Celtics team. That’s probably the best way I can say it. The community is what makes the Celtics great here in Boston. Pandemonium, that’s what makes this place so loud and so special. They take pride in that.

Do your research and make sure you know what you’re getting into if you’re a player contemplating about coming here in free agency or getting drafted here. That’s what I can provide.