Kyrie not proud of past exchanges with Celtics fans

Kyrie Irving said he isn't proud of his previous interactions with Boston Celtics fans, including an incident during the 2022 playoffs when he was fined $50,000 for flashing his middle finger at fans while a member of the Brooklyn Nets.

"When we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my shit a little bit - that wasn't a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level," Irving told reporters Monday ahead of the Finals, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

"It wasn't a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you."

Since leaving Boston for Brooklyn in free agency, Irving has received a hostile reception from the Celtics faithful with each visit to TD Garden.

The All-Star guard didn't do himself any favors when he stomped on Boston's team logo at center court following the Nets' Game 4 postseason victory in 2021. Shortly after, a fan threw a water bottle at Irving as he made his way to the locker room.

Still, Irving said he looks back fondly on his two-year stint with the Celtics as it prepared him for his leadership role with the Dallas Mavericks.

"It was just a chapter in my life that I got to enjoy for the most part," Irving said. "We had a great opportunity to do some special things, but it was cut short, just based off personal reasons on my end."

Irving added: "The greatest thing I learned from Boston was just being able to manage not only my emotions or just what's going on on a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team or being one of the leaders and having young guys around you that have their own goals, but you have to learn how to put the big picture first."