Kyrie Irving was the subject of boos and chants from Celtics fans on Wednesday night as the team hosted the Nets.
Irving, who wasn't even traveling with the team as he continues to sit out with a shoulder injury, drew the ire of Celtics fans for electing to leave the team to sign a max contract with the Nets this past offseason.
Following the Celtics' win over Brooklyn, Irving fired back against all the criticism coming his way, via a post to his Instagram story.
Kyrie Irving with thoughts on his return to Boston (via kyrieirving/IG) pic.twitter.com/SKSNGaeixs
- SNY (@SNYtv) November 28, 2019
"It happens all the time and Tonight just shows how Sports/Entertainment will always be ignorant and obtrusive," Irving began.
In his prolonged message, Irving said, "It's one big SHOW that means Very VERY little in the real world that most people live in because there are Actually things that matter going on within it."
Within the message, Irving also wrote, "Butttt, This Game of Sports entertainment matter more than someone's mental health and well being right? Or the real life things that happen to people everyday but they still have to Perform for the NBA and its fans? RIGHT?"
"This GAME isn't meant to be controlled and shown as a Drama, it's meant to show the LOVE," Irving concluded. "Lover for the Art is the Only damn thing that keeps the purist people in this Giant Sports/Entertainment Circus. Don't' fall for the Game that's played in front of you as Entertainment, it'll never be as serious dealing with LIFE."
Celtics fans chanted "Kyrie sucks!" during the game's opening quarter, and also chanted "Where's Kyrie?" later in the game.
Prior to the game, Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who coached Irving for two seasons, said any criticism of the All-Star was unfair.
"I think that is one of the things that, unfortunately, when you're really, really good at something, the level of scrutiny is even higher," said Stevens. "And you know he's one of the best players in the NBA. And the level of scrutiny is unfair, but it comes with the territory of all those guys. And I just think that's why it's so important we constantly remind ourselves how good they are. The way people talked about his time -- I mean, he was second team All-NBA last year. He was ridiculous the year before."
After the game, Irving's former teammate Jaylen Brown also spoke out about the fans booing.
"I think the media has made it much bigger than what it actually is and things like that, and it's almost makes it like you're opposed, like in turns, one against one another, right?" Brown said. "I don't think it's that big of a deal. I think that everything worked out for the better for everybody, so I don't think anybody in Boston should have anything to complain or boo about, to be honest."