BOSTON — When he checked out of the game for the final time with 2:37 left and the Celtics leading by 21 points, Kyrie Irving didn’t go right to the Mavericks bench or even the sideline.
He hugged or shook hands with Celtics on the floor, starting with Jayson Tatum, then jogged to the Boston bench, gave a few more congratulations and then walked off the stage for the final time this year. He watched the final minutes of Boston’s 106-88 win that clinched the 2024 NBA title from the bench.
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Irving has been Celtics fans’ favorite target for scorn since he reneged on a pledge to re-sign in Boston. He was booed throughout all three Finals games at TD Garden as he’s been since he left for Brooklyn in 2019. In previous years, he’s returned their hostility, but on Monday, he tipped his cap to his former team.
“We finally ran into a team where they beat us fair and square, and we weren’t able to respond to a lot of their runs and we weren’t able to execute at a high level. So when I was shaking everybody’s hands, that was more of a sign of respect for their journey,” Irving said. “They have been through an incredible five-year span of going to Game 7s or losing in the Finals, so they know what this bitter feeling feels like being up here answering questions about (what) this next year holds, and I think they used everything as motivation.”
Irving said he admired the Celtics’ willingness to sacrifice and hoped the Mavericks would emulate that going forward.
“They really kept their head down and weren’t paying attention to any of the personal accolades,” he said. “They just came together as a team and were OK with each person being great in their role and selflessly putting their best foot forward. So I think we learned more than anything from this series on what it takes to not only get back to this level, but win at this level, and the Celtics are the perfect example for us this season because of how much they have had to deal with in the past few years.”
Irving, who has grown closer to Jaylen Brown since leaving the Celtics, was happy to see his former teammate win the NBA Finals MVP.
“That was big-time to see that trophy in his hands. I think him and (Jayson Tatum) should have split it, but those two guys in particular have been like students and as well now becoming teachers in their own right. So to see them accomplish that, I’m really proud and also extremely motivated to get back to this position in the next few years with my guys and be able to win this thing.”
