Tensions were high on both sides of the Philadelphia 76ers-Brooklyn Nets game Wednesday night.
The game marked the return of Ben Simmons to Philly and fans were ready to let him hear it.
They were also prepared to let the rest of the team know what they thought of them.
Kyrie and this fan. 👀
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 26, 2023
No matter where Kyrie Irving goes, he is sure to receive a reaction, both good and bad.
That was certainly the case on Wednesday, as numerous Philly fans jeered Irving, shouted out at him, and generally gave him a hard time.
Irving was mostly cool under pressure but one moment caught on camera saw Irving chirp back at a fan who was mocking him.
We don’t know what was said between the fan and the All-Star guard but it was obviously heated and not very friendly.
This isn’t the first time that Irving has pushed back against the criticism from the stands.
He has never been afraid of chopping it up and having a heated dialogue with his detractors.
It’s gotten him into trouble in the past, especially in Boston, the home of his former team.
There are many NBA followers who despise Irving, his personality, and insistence on speaking his mind.
But they cannot deny his skill.
On Wednesday, Irving put up 30 points, 2 rebounds, and 10 assists.
And for the season, Irving has been good for 26.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, which means he is still one of the best guards in the league during his 11th year.
Irving has been carrying a larger load lately since Kevin Durant has been out of the game with an injury.
But his power and leadership weren’t enough on Wednesday, as the Nets were taken down 137-133 by the 76ers.
You can bet that quite a few Philadelphia fans were smiling about Irving’s defeat.
NEXT: Kevin Durant Comments On Playing In The All-Star Game
