ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins warns Boston Celtics fans to be cautious in directing their displeasure towards Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during the upcoming NBA Finals.
“I will offer some advice to the fanbase of the Celtics and that’s to leave him the h**l alone,” said Perkins while appearing on “NBA Today” on Monday.
“Leave him alone because you’re not the ones that have to go between those lines and actually guard this man. Right now, Kyrie Irving has been in a zone,” he continued.
Irving has earned the reputation of a villain among Boston fans after wearing the Celtics jersey for two seasons and initially promising to re-sign with the franchise, only to later back out of his commitment and join the Brooklyn Nets in free agency in 2019.
Kyrie Irving's return to Boston for the NBA Finals brings an added layer of tension as he and the Mavericks stand as the only remaining obstacle between the Celtics and their 18th title.
Kyrie Irving’s history with the Celtics
Back in August 2017, the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers confirmed the blockbuster trade which saw Irving move to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and two draft picks.
The trade was briefly placed in limbo due to Thomas' hip injury, but the Celtics resolved the issue by including an additional second-round pick to complete the deal.
The Celtics advanced to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals in the 2017-2018 season primarily due to Kyrie Irving's heroics and a standout rookie performance from Jayson Tatum.
However, Irving was sidelined with a knee injury by the time playoffs arrived. Following surgery in March 2018, he couldn't recover in time as the Celtics fell just short of the NBA Finals, losing narrowly to LeBron James' Cavs in the do-or-die Game 7.
Bad blood with Boston
Before the 2018-19 season, Irving addressed Celtics fans during a season-ticket holder event at TD Garden. He assured them that although he couldn't sign an extension until the offseason, he was committed to remaining in Boston.
“If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here,” he told the happy home crowd.
Irving's attitude shifted significantly. By February 2019, he faced challenges as a leader with the Celtics and was questioned about his plans to stay. In response, he bluntly stated, “I don't owe anybody s**t, ask me July 1st.”
Irving added to his villain persona by stomping on the Celtics leprechaun logo at center court during a 2021 playoff series. He even had a fan throw a water bottle at him.
In 2022, during the first round at TD Garden with the Nets, Irving reacted to harsh jeering from Celtics fans by gesturing with his middle fingers.
Perkins, the former-Celtic turned analyst, acknowledges that Celtics fans will passionately boo Irving, but he cautions against going further as it could fuel Irving's motivation to lead the Mavericks to an NBA title.
Flourishing with the Mavericks
In his first full season with Dallas this year, Irving averaged 25.6 points and 5.2 assists per game. During the playoffs, he has kept consistent, averaging 22.8 points while shooting at 48.5 percent across 17 games.
Irving and Luka Dončić led Dallas to the NBA Finals after a thorough dismantling of the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, setting up a highly anticipated showdown against Irving's former team. Game 1 is Thursday at TD Garden.
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