Kyrie Irving spoke as he fired up Celtics fans for Brooklyn's first-round playoff series against Boston in 2022.
Tensions were still high after Irving left Boston three years ago.
“I'll say the last time in Boston, I don't think that was the best — not in the regular season, but when we were playing in the playoffs and everybody saw me birding and losing my sh*ta a little bit — that wasn't a good reflection of who I am and how I like to compete at a high level, ” Irving said Monday. “It wasn't a good reflection of my fate on the next generation about what it means to control your emotions in that area, no matter what people yell at you.
“I was built for these times, to be able to deal with situations like this, and I have been able to grow from there. So it's going to be a busy place, but I'm looking forward to it and I see it as a healthy relationship that I have with the fans. I almost think of 'Gladiator,' and I just win over the crowd. It's nice to hear TD Garden quiet when you play well. They still respect the great game of basketball.”
Irving also talked about getting ready for the hostile environment that awaits him in Boston, where the first two games of the NBA Finals will be played.
The Mavericks star said he is in a better position to handle that hostile environment than he has been in a few years.
“I think I'm better at putting together kind of emotions now or knowing what it's going to be like,” Irving said. “We call it enmity, we call it hatred, we call it, 'It's going to be hell in Boston.' I mean there are real, live situations happening in the world that are bigger than basketball, the competitive nature of things and they answer those questions. “
It's been an impressive postseason for Irving, averaging 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists in these contests.
Game 1 of the finals will be Thursday at TD Garden.
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