Kyrie Irving spent three and a half years playing for the Brooklyn Nets and participated in the playoffs on two occasions.
Upon his return to the Barclays Center, where he once called home, Irving was met with a chorus of boos from the Nets fans (image via Erik Slater/X). Last year, Irving joined the Dallas Mavericks after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets. Exactly one year later, he was set to play against his former team. Irving played a crucial role in the Nets’ playoff runs in 2021 and 2022. Given his contributions, one would have expected the Nets to give him a warm welcome. However, that was not the case, as the former Nets superstar was greeted with loud boos.
During the player introductions, a message welcoming Irving back, along with the faces of other returning Nets players, was displayed on the central screen. This led to a barrage of boos from the Nets fans. As Irving stood up after his name was called by the arena announcer, the boos and jeers from the home crowd grew even louder. Despite his genuine appreciation, the boos continued relentlessly.
In the 2019 free agency, Kyrie Irving signed with the Brooklyn Nets, aiming to play for his hometown team. His decision also influenced his former teammate to join him there. Their common goal was to leave behind their past accomplishments and establish their own legacy, with winning championships being the ultimate objective.
During the pregame introductions, Kyrie Irving received a mixed reaction from the crowd, with boos coming from the Nets fans and cheers from Mavericks supporters. The Nets displayed a graphic on the screen welcoming back Irving, Seth Curry, and Markieff Morris. (source: tweet)
Unfortunately, their collective goal was hindered by injuries and off-court issues. Irving’s intention was to bring joy to his hometown fans, but when contract negotiations soured, he lost his desire to continue playing for the Nets organization. Consequently, he requested a trade, which led to his move to Dallas.
The game between the Mavericks and the Nets was particularly intriguing due to Irving’s return. It closely followed Durant’s return a few days earlier, during which he received a tribute video. However, Irving did not receive the same recognition. In addition to the boos, Irving felt that he was not given enough respect.
In response, Irving delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 36 points. Together with his superstar teammate, they handed the Nets their 12th loss in 17 games since the start of the new year. Irving sealed his performance with a rare one-handed alley-oop dunk, showcasing his determination to prove a point to the Nets fans, who he believed were resentful.
The Brooklyn Nets fans seem to forget that if it weren’t for Irving, Kevin Durant would have signed with their cross-town rivals, the New York Knicks. However, these fans chose to overlook Irving’s contributions and held onto their bitterness.