Read an article to understand how Irving's grievances came from: promising to renew the contract but violating it, repeatedly provoking fans and causing public anger

From a dozen to five

2024-06-03 07:07Posted in Shandong Sports Creators

After the Celtics defeated the Pacers and swept their opponents to the Finals, Celtics fans who were watching the game on TV in Boston shouted "Fxxk Irving" from the sidelines. In recent days, the Celtics have been preparing for training, and reporters have been asking Celtics players what they think of Irving.

Irving's feud with the Celtics is a big gimmick for this year's Finals. So, what really happened between Irving and the Celtics back then? Why do Celtics fans hate Irving so much?

Promised to renew the contract but left

In the summer of 2017, Danny Angie seized the opportunity to trade the injured "Little Assassin" Thomas for Irving. At that time, the Celtics were strong, young players had their own characteristics, and with the arrival of Irving and Hayward, the Celtics were aiming for an 18th crown. However, in the first season, due to injury problems, the Celtics entered the Eastern Conference finals, but lost to Irving's old club, the Cavaliers. In that series, Irving and Hayward didn't play because of injuries.

The 2018-19 season is Irving's contract year, and according to the rules, Irving is eligible for an early contract extension with the Celtics before the season starts, but he said: "From a contract, financial standpoint, it's not cost-effective to renew early, and I'm sure my agent and I will discuss it, but not now." ”

In October 2018, during a meeting with Celtics season ticket holders, Irving abruptly promised to renew his contract: "I've shared this decision with some of my teammates, the team, and everyone else in Boston, and if you all want me back, then I plan to renew my contract with the Celtics next year." ”

In an interview the next day, Irving added: "I have every intention to renew my contract with the Celtics next year, and if I'm lucky, I dream of one day having my No. 11 jersey hanging over the ceiling (retiring)." I've done my best, obviously there were a lot of great players before me, but I'm happy to put my name into the heritage and history of Celtic. I'm planning to do that. ”

"To be honest, the idea of starting over in a different place is terrible. Let's be honest. I just thought, man, I don't want to move anymore. I don't want my family to be uprooted and face everything new again. No disrespect for the other teams, but here it is perfect. ”

But as Irving went through his honeymoon with the Celtics, some issues surfaced and Irving's attitude changed. In February 2019, Irving changed his tune and said he would make the choice that was best for him, saying he owed no one. At this time, Irving's attitude of staying with the team to renew his contract is not so clear. And during the 2019 All-Star period, a reporter photographed Irving and Durant chatting in the player tunnel, although Irving denied that he was recruiting Durant, but Durant later admitted that it was from that time that the two were determined to go somewhere to join forces.

In the 2019 offseason, "somewhere" was decided to be Brooklyn, with Irving signing with the Nets along with Durant.

Owen's reversal was seen as a betrayal by the Celtic camp, and since then, Owen has become a public enemy of the Celtics.

Shelling Celtic's young players

When the Celtics brought in Irving, they hoped that he would become a leader, but at that time, Irving was only a Mesozoic player himself, and his leadership skills were lacking, and he had conflicts with young players.

After a 1-4 loss on the Celtics' road trip in 2018-19, Irving thought the Celtics should bring in veterans who understand a season as a marathon and know when to make a move. A few months later, Owen directly blasted the young players for their lack of experience and lack of understanding how to win.

Irving also did something controversial after the bombardment, admitting that he called LeBron James and apologized for his previous actions, and he sought James' advice to learn how to be a better leader.

Irving's approach has attracted the dissatisfaction of many Celtics fans, after all, James is the Celtics' old enemy.

Repeatedly provoked Celtic fans

In December 2020, Irving returned to the TD Garden arena in Boston as a Nets player, but the venue was empty during the pandemic. Before the game, Owen burned sage around the field, and Owen explained that he wanted to "purify the energy".

Ahead of the 2021 playoff game against the Celtics, Irving said he wants fans to keep their attention on basketball and "not have any aggressiveness or racism, implicit racism, and no yelling in the crowd."

G4, a fan was arrested for throwing a drink at Irving as he left the court. Owen was furious: "Unfortunately, sports have come to such a crossroads. It's just potential racism and treating people like people in a human zoo. ”

In that game, Irving stepped on the Celtics logo on the halfway line, which upset many people, including Celtics legend Kevin Garnett, who took the lead in slamming Irving.

In the 2022 playoffs, Celtics fans continued to greet Irving with name-calling and boos, with Irving sarcastically saying, "I knew the rest of my career was going to be like this." It's like an abandoned girlfriend who wants me to explain why she left but still wants her to get back to me, I just find the experience interesting. ”

More mature Owen

Now, Irving is more mature, and when the Mavericks lost to the Celtics in the regular season, Irving was booed by Celtics fans, and after the game he said that the fans had the right to boo him. When Irving mentioned the Celtics and fans again, his words were less of the previous-for-tat, more praise and reflection.

It's normal for competitive sports to smell of gunpowder, what kind of sparks will Owen have in this fight with his old club? See.

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