Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving returned to Cleveland on Monday and dropped 27 points in a loss to the Cavaliers, but it didn't come without controversy. Irving was seen clapping back at a courtside fan who was heckling him and because of the guard's NSFW comments, he's been fined $25,000 by the NBA:
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/RyAlhgk0Os
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 20, 2022
In case you missed the video, here it is:
Kyrie Irving to heckling fans: “Got y’all a championship, and you motherf*ckers still ungrateful.”
(via TT/_willswish, h/t @ComplexSports)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 18, 2022
A Nets loss and a fine. Not a great return to Believeland for Irving. Of course, he spent a total of six years in a Cavs jersey after they selected him first overall in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Duke. He helped bring the franchise an NBA title in 2016 alongside LeBron James, beating the mighty Golden State Warriors in The Finals.
Everywhere he's played, Irving has dealt with backlash after his departure. Whenever the Nets go to Boston, Celtics fans roast him and boo him. It's the same thing in Cleveland. On top of that, his whole vaccination stand-off is probably rubbing people the wrong way as well.
Nevertheless, Irving has been showing out since returning to the fold for the Nets. He's averaging 22 points, 5.4 assists, and five rebounds in five games so far while playing 34.4 minutes per night. With Kevin Durant currently out with an injury, Brooklyn will need Kyrie to keep stepping up when they're on the road. Let's hope he can control his emotions next time though if a fan tries to chirp him.
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