Kyrie Irving, Who Ended Celtics Stint on Bittersweet Terms, Reportedly Threatened to Have Surgery Just to Join Them in 2017

Kyrie Irving reportedly threatened surgery to force a trade out of Cleveland in 2017 to join the Boston Celtics. Irving played for the Celtics for two seasons and left on a sour note in 2019 to join forces with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.

Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics, especially Celtics fans, have not been on the friendliest of terms over the past few years. Celtics fans feel betrayed by Kyrie Irving leaving almost instantly after promising to stay with the franchise. Irving feels the same way about the constant jeering, booing and hurling of obscenities at him during road games and at the Garden.

Kyrie Irving threatened surgery to leave Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving to their Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2017. But reports have suggested that there’s more to play than what meets the eye. Irving allegedly threatened to undergo knee surgery during the beginning of the season and sit out the entire year.

Kyrie had a minor follow-up surgery due on his kneecap, which he hurt in the 2015 finals. The custom is to have the surgical procedure done during the offseason. But Kyrie reportedly threatened to undergo surgery in the middle of the season to force a trade out of Cleveland.

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This led to a supposed rift between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. The 2016 world champions would go to the NBA Finals one more time after the departure of Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie’s beef with Boston fans

The Boston Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets this season in the first round of the playoffs. Boston fans constantly mocked and jeered at Kyrie for the entire duration of the first two games at TD Garden.

The reason for such vitriol is pretty simple. Kyrie’s arrival promised another Celtics dynasty like that of the 80s. But the 7-time All-Star failed to work in tandem with young guns like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and left almost immediately after promising to stay in Boston.

To add insult to injury, Irving stomped on the leprechaun in the Celtics logo last year after a road game. This further fueled the fire among Boston fans.

Meanwhile, Kyrie’s stay in Brooklyn was a disaster too. After missing a boatload of games in two seasons for undisclosed personal reasons and refusing to take the vaccine, Irving might become an unrestricted free agent this season by opting out of his $36.9 million player option.

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Do you think Kyrie will leave Brooklyn? Comment below.