Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla took some pictures with some young fans at an event with the Larry O'Brien trophy. One young fan was wearing a Celtics jersey with the number 11 on it. Immediately, Mazzulla tried to see the back of it, to find out whether the fan was wearing a Kyrie Irving jersey, as Kyrie Irving used to wear 11.
Since Kyrie Irving's departure, Celtics youngster Peyton Pritchard has taken the number and found success with it. While he doesn't get nearly as much playing time as Kyrie did with it, Pritchard has learned to play a role, and does so very well, becoming a key fixture in the Celtics' rotation.
Irving is quite the contentious figure among Celtics fans. He played for the franchise from 2017 to 2019. He didn't find a lot of success with them, even though he did play a part in them reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018. But what set fans off on him was his false promise to them.
In an interview in 2019, Irving told fans that he would re-sign with the Celtics in free agency. However, he shocked Celtics fans, and the entire league, when he joined forces with Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets just a few months later. Things only got worse a few years later, when Irving returned to Boston with the Nets.
After Game 4 of the first-round series between the Nets and the Celtics, Irving stepped on the Celtics mascot Lucky at center court, which was perceived as a massively disrespectful gesture. But that has worked to his detriment, as Irving has a 14-2 record against the franchise since then.
Kyrie Irving Has Matured Greatly Since Celtics Departure
Kyrie Irving reflected on his time with the Celtics and how he handled the departure during an interview prior to the NBA Finals , noting that he was in a bad place in life during his stint in Boston, and he has been able to process that time since then and has found peace in his life now that he is with the Mavericks.
Irving did admit that he acted out of character during the Nets' two playoff series against the Celtics in 2021 and 2022, as he was continuously egging the fans on and provoking them with his different antics.
But since then, Irving has started to soften his stance on the Celtics, admitting in an interview during the NBA Finals that he wouldn't be at the point in his career with the Mavericks without his brief stint with the 18-time NBA champions. Irving has really matured in the last few years, especially after leaving the Nets.
Irving is very happy with the Mavericks, even hinting at a long-term extension with them. It is great to see Irving happy and committed to a franchise, something he hadn't been for a long time. Irving definitely believes in the team, saying after the NBA Finals that the team can contend for a championship next season .
The Mavericks have gotten stronger in the offseason with the addition of Klay Thompson. If Irving along with Luka Doncic can replicate their level of performance from this recent playoff run, they will be a powerhouse in the Western Conference.
Related: Mark Cuban Opens Up On Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irving Leading Dallas To The NBA Finals
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