NBA fines Kyrie Irving $50,000 for giving Celtics fans in Boston the middle finger

April 20, 2022 World Sports

Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 for giving fans in Boston the middle finger on Sunday, the NBA announced. Irving has had a contentious relationship with fans in Boston ever since he left the team in the 2019 offseason. Irving had previously said that he planned to re-sign with the team at a season-ticket holder’s event. Since then, he has been booed relentlessly and one fan threw a water bottle at him during last season’s series between the Nets and Celtics. Irving had previously wiped his shoe on Boston’s center-court logo.

On Sunday, Irving used the middle finger to respond to words he heard from fans in the stands. There were multiple incidents in which he gave fans the middle finger, as well as a back-and-forth that took place after the game.

Irving stood firm when asked about the incidents after the game. “Look, where I’m from, I’m used to all these antics and people being close nearby,” Irving said. “It’s nothing new when I come into this building what it’s going to be like — but it’s the same energy they have for me, I’m going to have the same energy for them.