“Absolute Dog”: Nick Kyrgios Hails Jimmy Butler’s Mentality After Monumental Run in NBA Playoffs

Australian tennis sensation Nick Kyrgios is taking a break from his sport at the moment. He’s making up for the lost time with his family and friends while indulging in a lot of basketball. In fact, Kyrgios fell in love with basketball even before he chose tennis! 

2020 is a year filled with distressing news about the pandemic. But it has given Nick Kyrgios much needed time to relax. The 25-year-old is getting this extensive break after so many years, and he spent it by watching the recently concluded 2020 NBA season. 

Nick Kyrgios and his love for the NBA

In fact, Nick Kyrgios is a huge NBA fan. The Canberra native picks basketball as his first love over the profession he is following now. He also plays the game, knows to get the buckets, and avidly supports an NBA team as well. 

“Basketball was my first love, even before tennis,” Kyrgios said, via Matt Walsh of ESPN. “I had a basketball hoop outside my house, and I’m a massive Celtics fan. I honestly just started playing basketball around the same time. I picked up a ball and it felt natural. I just love the sport. I think it’s the best sport in the world,” he added.

So the Boston Celtics is Kyrgios’ favorite team. But the Celtics were knocked out of the NBA playoffs by the Miami Heat in six games. The team showed great promise but fell at the hands of Jimmy Butler, who looked ruthlessly aggressive. 

“I was heartbroken when the Celtics went down to the Heat, I honestly thought that was a series we were going to take,” Kyrgios continued. “All credit to Jimmy Butler, he was an absolute dog all playoffs, and he’s solidified himself as a superstar in the league.”

Kyrgios’ alternate favorites in the NBA

So we now know that Nick Kyrgios is a huge fan of the Boston Celtics. They’re 17-time NBA champs and one of the most lucrative franchises in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers stand out as the fierce rivals of the Celtics and they so much history.

The Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship to match the Celtics’ tally of 17 titles. These two teams have a long-standing rivalry and their fans pretty much hate each other too. But Nick Kyrgios is different! He is a die-hard Celtic, but his second favorite team in the league is the Lakers! 

“But if [it wasn’t to be] the Celtics, the Lakers are my next team. I love Rondo. Rajon Rondo is one of my favourite players, and I thought he played a massive role in the playoffs — gave them stability and controlled the tempo,” Kyrgios mentioned. 

Moreover, LeBron James won his first ring as a Laker and fans are expecting him to win at least one more. People doubted his ability to deliver in the Western Conference, and LeBron silenced everyone with his performance. 

“But I’m glad LeBron James got that ring,” Kyrgios added. “They always said he was doing it in a ‘weak East,’ and now he went to the West, finished as the No. 1 seed and got it done, so I’m super stoked for LeBron.”

Nick Kyrgios isn’t your average NBA fan. He’s fully immersed in the sport and enjoys it to the maximum extent. Kyrgios is currently ranked 43 in the world, and last played at the 2020 Mexican Open.