Kyrie Irving played for the Boston Celtics for two seasons from 2017 to 2019. Even though Irving earned a few accolades during his time in Boston, making his only All-NBA second team appearance, he is remembered pretty disdainfully by the fanbase.
This is primarily because of what went down during his second season with the team. After Irving promised that he would re-sign in Boston before the season started, the team fell well short of expectations, going 49-33 and getting eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs that year.
Irving then went on to sign with the Brooklyn Nets a few months later. Since then, Celtics fans have never hesitated to express their contempt for Irving every time he has stepped foot in Boston.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11)
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
However, despite everything that has happened with Irving and the Celtics, the NBA star and champion still looks back on his time in Boston pretty fondly. On his personal live stream, Irving praised the team while talking to his former teammate Jaylen Brown. Irving first talked about his prior connections to Boston.
"It was when I first got there, bro. Like, it was so exciting," Irving said. "My dad had gone to school right up the street. My mom graduated from BU as well, so it felt right, you know, just going there, being able to go with you guys."
Irving then talked about why playing for the Celtics was different from playing for his previous team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"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."
Since leaving Boston, Irving has been to one Conference Finals appearance and one NBA Finals appearance with no titles since then. Since moving on from Irving, Boston has been to four Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and has won a title, coincidentally over Irving and the Dallas Mavericks.