The Dallas Mavericks are NBA Finals bound and Kyrie Irving is officially being viewed in a different light. Now, the former Lakers' assistant coach Phil Handy is speaking out on those who doubted the longtime point guard and living NBA legend.

Handy's defense of Irving came amid a Western Conference title celebration that went awry for Luka Doncic. The final details for the Mavs vs. Celtics NBA Finals were revealed.

According to Handy, Irving is owed an apology for the way things have went down over the last few years in the National Basketball Association pertaining to Irving.

Lakers coach stumps for Irving after Finals win 

If Kyrie Irving were running for president, he might choose the former Lakers' assistant coach as his vice presidential running mate.

Handy said that Irving was treated unfairly by the NBA world in recent years. “There's a lot of people in the hoop world who owe this man public apologies,” Handy said. “Some of y'all tried to bury this dude and kill his career based on what you heard and not what you know.”

Fans react to Handy's comments on Mavericks point guard

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Irving finished second in scoring behind Luka Doncic during the Western Conference Finals. He dropped 36 points alongside Luka Doncic's 36 points on a Thursday night when both Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards put up 28 each for the Timberwolves.

Fans reacted to Handy's comments in support of the at times embattled NBA star.

“Coach is a class act,” one reader said in response.

“100, coach a real one,” another fan added.

“Celtics fans acting like victims,” another fan said. “Y'all treated Kyrie horribly while he was there and even worse after he left.”