Kyrie Irving was extremely frustrated with one Boston Celtics star during the 2024 NBA Finals, putting on a clinic.
Kyrie Irving has had a very contentious relationship with the Boston Celtics. The former NBA champion joined them in 2017.
Irving’s pairing with LeBron James grew untenable, and the young star demanded a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, going to the Celtics in a big trade.
In his first season, Irving took the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. But he would fall to his former team, the Cavaliers, in a thrilling seven-game series.
Irving would play another year, when he promised to return to the team in free agency. But in a big twist, he would leave the Celtics to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, joining Kevin Durant in New York City.
Years later, on the Dallas Mavericks, Irving would face the Boston Celtics on the NBA Finals stage that he had never taken the team to. And during that series, he was frustrated with one particular player who punished the Celtics.
Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty ImagesPayton Pritchard’s incredible shots during NBA Finals infuriated Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving spoke to former Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown during a stream. When discussing their battle in the 2024 NBA Finals, Irving revealed his frustration with Payton Pritchard.
Pritchard made incredible half-court shots on two different occasions. Irving was so rattled by these shots that he almost tried to fight Pritchard.
However, these comments were made in jest, as Irving gave the young guard his props during these comments.
“By the way, in our locker room, after Payton would hit those f****** half-court shots, them s**** would go in and we’re going into halftime… I thought about swinging.”
“One time, though, just to see where he was at. Shoutout PP. I thought about swinging one time. I thought about swinging. How did that half-court shot happen two times?”
Kyrie Irving reflects on his ‘exciting’ Boston Celtics tenure
Kyrie Irving also addressed his time with the Celtics. Despite the tumultuous nature of his exit, Irving looks back very fondly on his time with the Celtics.
“It was when I first got there, bro. Like, it was so exciting. My dad had gone to school right up the street.
“My mom graduated from [Boston University] as well, so it felt right, you know, just going there, being able to go with you guys.
“And bro, to be on the floor with that much talent after being in Cleveland. I needed that change of pace. You guys were challenging me every day, and I needed that.
“I need that for sure. So, first getting there, the excitement, being able to put on the Boston Celtics uniform, that was crazy.”
Hopefully, Celtics fans can abandon their animosity towards Irving. But that level of competition will probably persist for the rest of his career.