Kyrie Irving is not nearly going into hiding after his team’s season-ending loss.
Irving and the Dallas Mavericks were officially eliminated from NBA title contention with a 106-88 loss to the Boston Celtics in Monday night’s Finals opener. It ended up being a gentleman’s sweep for the Celtics as they needed only five games to knock out the Mavs.
Only a few minutes after the loss, Irving rushed to social media with a message for fans.
“Tribe, stay together no matter what,” Irving said in a post to X. “Through the ups and downs, wins and losses, success and failure. Keep your head up high. This mission is bigger than us. I adore you all! Hélà.”
Tribe, keep together no matter what. Through the ups and downs, successes and losses, success and failure. Keep your head up high. This mission is bigger than us. I adore you all!
Hélà
Tribe, stay together no matter what. Through the ups and downs, wins and losses, success and failure. Keep your head up high. This mission is bigger than us. I love you all!
Hélà🤞🏾🪶♾❤️
— Chief Hélà 🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) June 18, 2024
— Chief Hélà (@KyrieIrving) June 18, 2024
The eight-time All-Star Irving was undoubtedly the most scrutinized player of the Finals and ultimately failed to measure up to the moment. He finished the five-game series with unmoving averages of 19.8 points and 5.0 assists per game on 41/28/100 shooting splits. Irving struggled with the defense of Boston’s Jrue Holiday and Derrick White and was unable to offer the steady No. 2 production that Dallas needed next to Luka Doncic.
On top of that Irving, a former Boston Celtic, did not do himself any favors with the comments he made during the series. Irving spoke candidly about Celtics fans on many occasions, setting himself up to additional unfavorable publicity that he finally faltered in the face of.
