Things got testy for Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving and fans of the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
To be fair, things have been testy between those two parties for quite a while now but they reached a fever pitch during game one of the playoffs.
After receiving a deafening chorus of boos again and again throughout the game, Irving struck back at the fans in Boston, flipping them off after making an impressive three-point shot.
There was no doubt that the NBA would fine him for his actions.
The fine is the maximum allowed before a player can file a grievance.
I did not see the NBA taking the unprecedented measure in fining Irving more and making this a legal issue. https://t.co/MyMSfZWp8e
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 19, 2022
Sure enough, the league announced that Irving was being fined $50,000 for his obscene gesture to the crowd.
That’s a hefty sum of money but there is a reason behind it.
As Bobby Marks pointed out, $50,000 is the maximum amount a player can be fined before they are allowed to file a grievance with the NBA.
Therefore, Irving has to pay this fine and cannot make it into a legal issue.
The league wants to move on from this incident – but can they?
Irving Standing Firm
He wasn’t apologetic for his actions following the game.
He took to the press and told them that he was going to dish out the insults and rudeness just like the fans are.
“It’s nothing new when I come into this building what it’s going to be like,” Irving told ESPN.
He added: “But it’s the same energy they have for me, I’m going to have the same energy for them.”
The fans are committed to treating Irving poorly and he is committed to letting them have it too.
This all but ensures that the boos – and pushback from Irving – will continue during Game 2 of the playoffs on Wednesday night.
There is a good chance that Irving will walk away with another fine when the game is done.
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