UPDATED 05/31/21 3:45 p.m. ET: On Monday, ex-Celtics champ/late-career Net/Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett weighed in on the situation through his IG Story. After a post in which he praised the production of Brooklyn’s big 3 (Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden) in the win, he then made it clear he didn’t like Irving stomping on Boston’s mid-court logo (if confused, just scroll down).
“So nobody gonna say anything about Kyrie stomping Lucky,” he wrote. “We just gonna act like we didn’t see that. Tf going on… You can’t do that. That’s not coo on no level. All of us need to be better frfr...I’m just sayin.”
As for the fan who threw the water bottle, 21-year-old Cole Buckley, he was arrested and charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
See original story below.
Kyrie Irving didn’t get the warmest welcome at his former home court on Sunday night.
After the Brooklyn Nets beat the Boston Celtics 141-126 at TD Garden, taking their series lead to 3-1, video emerged showing a water bottle being thrown at Irving as he exited the court. The bottle appeared to miss Kyrie, as you can see in the video below, but his teammates didn’t look too thrilled, and pointed to the fan after the incident.
The man—later identified as 21-year-old Cole Buckley—was apprehended and detained, according to the Boston Globe’s national NBA writer Gary Washburn and subsequently confirmed by numerous outlets.
Another tweet from YES Network’s Michael Grady appeared to show the man—rocking a Kevin Garnett jersey—being escorted out of his seat by Boston Police after he was arrested.
A TD Garden spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the person in question has been hit with a lifetime ban at the arena. “We will support and provide assistance to Boston Police as this incident is under review. We have zero tolerance for violations of our guest code of conduct, and the guest is subject to a lifetime ban from TD Garden,” the statement reads.
After the game, Irving was asked about the incident.
“You’re seeing a lot of old ways come up…just underlying racism and treating people like they’re in a human zoo,” he said. “Throwing stuff at people, saying things. There is a certain point where it gets to be too much.”
Kevin Durant stood by his teammate, saying fans should “grow the fuck up and enjoy the game.”
“We know how these people are in Boston, and we know how passionate they are about Kyrie in particular,” KD said, according to New York Daily News reporter Kristian Winfield.
Nets coach Steve Nash said he didn’t see the incident.
At one point, Kyrie was seen stepping on the Celtics logo after the game, but nothing warrants having a bottle thrown at a player.
It’s just the latest in a string of incidents in which fans have gotten way out of line with players. Earlier in the playoffs, a fan threw popcorn on Russell Westbrook, while another spit on Trae Young. Earlier this week, Irving called on Boston fans to be respectful, and said that he hopes to avoid what he called “subtle racism.”
