"Trying to make peace in Boston" - Paul Pierce implied that Kyrie Irving embraced his villain role in front of Celtics fans

While some may argue that Kyrie Irving has evolved as a leader and thus has refrained from providing the Boston Celtics with additional fodder to fuel their resentment, Paul Pierce perceives this situation differently.

Witnessing the constant mocking and relentless taunting directed at Kai whenever he touched the basketball at the Boston Garden throughout the 2024 NBA Finals, 'The Truth' advised Kai to confront the challenge head-on rather than attempting to rectify the wrongs of the past.

Pierce's advice to Irving

Speaking on Undisputed, the 2008 Finals MVP mentioned how the constant boos and 'Kyrie Sucks' chants in Games 1 and 2 have affected Kai's performances, as evidenced by his average of 14 points in those two games. Although the 8-time All-Star may not wish to remain on anyone's bad books, Pierce reminded Irving that nothing will change the hearts of Celtics fans, which is why it is a must for him to be as ruthless as he once was in confronting them.

"It looks like he's trying to make peace; that's never gonna happen. He doesn't want them yelling his name; he doesn't want them to say, 'Kyrie sucks' every time he touches the ball," Pierce said . "Don't come back like kinda apologetic to me, like you explaining what your time was here… just embrace it. No matter what - you're the villain in Boston; that's never gonna change."

C's fans mock Irving in Game 5

As Pierce predicted, the unforgiving nature of Celtics fans was on full display during Game 5, as they relentlessly heckled Kyrie throughout his 41 minutes on the court. Once again, this constant barrage of taunts took a toll on the 6'2" point guard's performance, as he mustered only 15 points on an inefficient 5-of-16 shooting, including a 3-of-9 mark from beyond the arc. His subpar performance ultimately culminated in the Celtics securing their 18th championship with a commanding 106-88 victory.

While Celtics fans may be unwilling to grant Irving an opportunity to rectify his past mistakes and mend their fractured relationship, the 32-year-old harbored no ill will towards the players themselves. In a display of sportsmanship, he was among the first to congratulate the Celtics players.

Nevertheless, this chapter of their rivalry may have ended in favor of Celtics fans. Still, it remains to be seen if 'Uncle Drew' will be able to wipe the smiles off their faces in the next season.

Related: Jayson Tatum delivered a Larry Bird-like feat while leading the Boston Celtics to their 18th title