Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Kyrie Irving remains the most insufferable athlete in the world. He also remains fantastically self-unaware.


Update: Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The NBA trade deadline is next Thursday, Feb. 9.


Irving’s Nets fell victim to a monstrous beatdown at the hands of his former team, the Boston Celtics, in a 139-96 loss at TD Garden on Wednesday night. After the game, he went on an extended soliloquy (obviously) about the C’s and what they’re doing right now as the NBA’s top team and the favorite to make the NBA Finals out of the east.

And, as usual, he was unnecessarily verbose and convoluted. The man simply cannot put words together in a way that’s not grating to the eyes and ears.

  • BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets is announced before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets is announced before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

  • “As a competitor, I’m not going to stop until I figure out what this methodology is to the Boston Celtics right now and why they’re so hot,” Irving said (via Boston.com’s Conor Ryan). “I think I have a main reason – is just how connected they are and how much they play together, how many minutes they’ve logged in together and again that chip on their shoulder.”

    Classic Kyrie. Making himself sound more profound than he really is. Pretentious. Fake thoughtful. And because you could argue he even dialed it back a bit with this statement, well, it just might be the perfect Kyrie Irving quote.

    He couldn’t just say he wants the Nets to be where the Celtics are at, or he’s committed to beating them. No, he has to hit us with a “methodology.” There’s much more from Kyrie on the Celtics, and probably about 300 more words than he needed, in Conor Ryan’s full article. Anyone who’s not a weird simp for him can read it and roll their eyes. Leaves you begging him to just speak like a normal human being for once in his life.

  • BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 01: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates in front of Cam Thomas #24 and Seth Curry #30 of the Brooklyn Nets after scoring during the first half at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 01: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates in front of Cam Thomas #24 and Seth Curry #30 of the Brooklyn Nets after scoring during the first half at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

  • Better yet, Kyrie apparently still doesn’t understand that a big part of the Celtics’ maturation and improvement was him getting out of the way. Kyrie’s departure allowed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown take over as the team’s true leaders, and wouldn’t you know, they made the NBA Finals in 2022 and have aspirations of winning the whole thing in 2023.

    But it’s not terribly surprising for someone like Kyrie to lack self-awareness. Nobody who talks like him has enough of it. He can keep wondering why the Nets keep coming up short in the playoffs, despite his and Kevin Durant’s immense talent. He is not and will never be the guy you want as the identity or leader of your team, on or off the court.

    But I suppose giving him microphones is still good for content.

  • BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

  • Click here for complete Boston Celtics coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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