USA Today via Reuters
Apr 10, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts as he leaves the game against the Los Angeles Lakers after being ejected during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 10, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts as he leaves the game against the Los Angeles Lakers after being ejected during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
This year, the entire NBA fraternity is super excited to have fans back in the arenas after more than a year. But that excitement would soon fade away if the fans don’t start behaving and at least paying respect to their heroes. In a series of fans vs athletes interactions, the episode of a Celtics fan misbehaving with Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving has seen the latest addition.
At TD Garden, the Nets defeated the Celtics 141-126 to take the lead to 3-1. However, something that happened after the game turned many eyebrows and further raised concerns over the safety of players.
A fan almost hit Kyrie Irving with a water bottle
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The NBA world has already seen a Sixers fan throwing popcorn at Russell Westbrook and a Knicks fan spitting at Hawks’ Trae Young. And now, just as Nets’ Kyrie Irving was heading back to the locker room, a fan appeared to throw a water bottle at him.
Right after Ky’s on-court interview with Michael Brady, when the star shooting guard was entering the tunnel, his teammate Tyler Johnson noticed something fishy. Take a look as the entire Nets roster stopped in the aisle to figure out who committed the mischief –
A fan appears to throw a water bottle at Kyrie as he heads into the locker room after the Nets-Celtics game. pic.twitter.com/SCGaWyStht
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 31, 2021
Ky scored a 39-point double-double in a match-winning performance against Jayson Tatum‘s 40 points. Perhaps, this was what boiled the Celtics fan.
But still, such behavior is highly unacceptable, and the league knows its sensitivity. This is how the notable names from the NBA fraternity reacted –
As a result, the sports facility management announced that the Boston Police arrested the guest who pulled that foolish act.
In the wake of a thrown water bottle at the Nets' Kyrie Irving, TD Garden has announced that a "guest at tonight's Boston Celtics game" was arrested by Boston Police for "throwing an object" and is "subject to a lifetime ban" from the arena.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 31, 2021
Read More – Former Knicks Coach Says Brooklyn Nets Will Have Tough Path to Reach NBA Finals
Why was the Brooklyn Nets star on target?
Kyrie Irving had spent two seasons in Boston from 2017 to 2019. He had infamously promised to the people of Boston, speaking at the TD Garden itself, that he would like his jersey to be retired in the same venue.
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Later, just as he left the city to join the NY-based Brooklyn Nets, the fans lost their trust in him.
However, at the end of the day, it is an athlete’s decision that is based on changing circumstances, and one must be respectful of that. These players put their bodies on the line to entertain the fans and they deserve much better than a flying water bottle potentially trying to injure them.
Even before playing in the TD Garden, Ky had raised some concerns in his interviews and had requested the fans to stay sane. However, one of those spectators certainly refused to hear Ky and did what he did.
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How do you as an NBA fan feel about this? Help us know in the comments.
Watch this story – Michael Jordan Was Embarrassed by Celtics’ Reggie Lewis
