Kyrie Irving approaching Boston Finals matchup with ‘no fear’
During NBA Finals Media Day on Wednesday, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving discussed the past, present, and future of his relationship with the Boston Celtics.
In the week-plus leading up to the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, plenty has been made of Kyrie Irving’s return to Boston. During NBA Finals Media Day on Wednesday, Irving finally got to speak on the matter himself.
“I mean, I’ve experienced Boston twofold- my first few years being in the NBA playing for the Cavs, then coming here to Boston, then being right down the street in Brooklyn, now being here in the Finals playing against them in a potential four-to-seven-game series,” Irving said. After being traded to the Celtics in 2017 Irving became the face of the franchise, but the relationship quickly soured and he left as a free agent in 2019 (after telling fans he planned to stay) to sign with the rival Brooklyn Nets.
Irving hasn’t exactly received a warm welcome at TD Garden since he left the Celtics. Boos are just the tip of the iceberg, with fans also chanting directly at him. While with the Nets Irving had his responses, including stomping on the Lucky logo at midcourt after a game and flipping fans off.
This time around, with a championship on the line, Irving says he plans to take a calmer approach.
“You just got to breathe through it. To all my youngins out there that are dealing with some of the crowd reactions, what they’re saying to you, you have to breathe, realize that is not as hostile as you think it is. Don’t overthink it,” Irving said. “Been able to work through that and understand that some of that is anxiety, some of that is nervousness. It could all be turned into a strength.”
“There’s no fear out here, man. It’s basketball. The fans are going to say what they’re going to say,” Irving continued. “I appreciate them and their relationship they have to the game. But it’s about the players at the end of the day.”
Irving also touched on facing his former team and former teammates – specifically Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – regardless of the crowd environment around them.
“I’m excited. They’ve gotten tremendously better. They’ve led their team to this point,” he said. “So I’m proud of them. I’m looking forward to the competition because this is what we’ve all strived for since we were kids, basketball at this level playing against the best of the best.”

“They have a great team over there, led by a great coach. So we’re going to be in for a great series, hard, tough series,” Irving added. “They’re going to give us their best. I know they’re not going to slow down when they see me. They’re going to come at me even more.”
On the other side Celtics players were asked about defending Irving, who is averaging 23 points and five assists per game so far in the postseason.
“That’s a great player over there, so it’s going to be a full-team effort. Him and Luka [Doncic],” Brown said. “Making sure we’re alert, making sure we’re back in transition, and do the best we can.”
Asked the key to defending Irving one-on-one, All-NBA guard Jrue Holiday replied “pray” before adding “I think it’s just familiarity. Just I think knowing each other’s game, doing your best to stay in front of him, trying to take away the things that will probably hurt you the most. Probably most of all having help. Him being able to see multiple guys on the court, making it look like it’s crowded, making shots as tough as possible, even though he’s a tough shot-maker.”

TD Garden was empty when Kyrie Irving stepped foot on the floor Wednesday for NBA Finals Media Day, but that won’t be the case in 24 hours when Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off. That’s when he’ll face the crowd, as well as his former teammates, as the series gets underway.
Coverage of Game 1 can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub and the BetMGM Celtics Radio Network. A special hour-long pregame with Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell begins at 7:30 p.m. ET leading up to an 8:30 tip.
Keep scrolling for more on the NBA Finals matchup…