The Brooklyn Nets took a 3-1 series lead on the Boston Celtics with their 141-126 Game 4 win on Sunday night, but it was the aftermath of the game that had NBA fans talking.
As Nets guard Kyrie Irving was making his way to the locker room, a fan threw a wattle bottle at Irving, which drew the attention of both the Nets team and TD Garden security. The fan would be arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Minutes before that, Irving was spotted stomping on the Celtics midcourt logo.
Now, the two moments aren’t nearly the same and shouldn’t be related at all. One is a crime and the other is a petty gesture involving a painted-on, leprechaun cartoon.
Kyrie appeared to step on the Boston logo as he greeted his teammates at half court postgame.
(via @yornoc74) pic.twitter.com/thcXjX15He
— ESPN (@espn) May 31, 2021
But there were some Celtics fans out there who put the logo stomp in the same category as the bottle throw.
Would LOVE to hear Kyrie Irving’s explanation for classless stomping of #Celtics logo. C’s seemingly couldn’t have made his time in Boston easier. Grousbeck, Ainge, Stevens, teammates…everyone went out of their way to ensure he had a positive experience, then wished him well.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) May 31, 2021
And for that, NBA fans went on to mock the enormous overreaction to Kyrie’s logo stomp. You know, the same logo that both teams spent a couple hours running over.
celtics logo listed as day to day pic.twitter.com/UZPTu8Je6N
— blackdragonroll (@blackdragonroll) May 31, 2021
The Celtics logo midway through the first quarter pic.twitter.com/QjtNpOMgT9
— Grant Goldberg (@GrantGoldberg) May 31, 2021
Danny Ainge crushing the foot of the Celtics logo. pic.twitter.com/mbRt0i0adl
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) May 31, 2021
This isn’t just a logo. Many legends played for this franchise and suffered injuries just to see a title for this fanbase. Disrespecting this logo is like disrespecting Bill Russell. You know, the guy you are with against this racism in Boston. Think about it 🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/7QGcZIiIM5
— new raw announcer (@MooseStaley) May 31, 2021
Posting a green square on Instagram in solidarity with the Celtics' logo Kyrie stepped on
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) May 31, 2021
Celtics fans when Kyrie steps on a logo of a cartoon leprechaun that everyone was running over for the last two hours pic.twitter.com/dAQunJ33cb
— Darin (@darin_fields18) May 31, 2021
lowkey the leprechaun in the celtics logo looks like he's winking bc he just threw a bottle
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) May 31, 2021
Pretty clear that Durant's foot is on the stomach of the mascot part of the Celtics center court logo. pic.twitter.com/FSUohNHn4v
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) May 31, 2021
Celtics logo (face laceration) is doubtful to return for the remainder of the series, sources tell @basketbllnews.
— Martinelli’s fan account (@NekiasNBA) May 31, 2021
Ohhh I see after the Celtics/ Nets game False equivalency Twitter is at peak levels. Lol imagine thinking stomping on a logo is grounds for violence. Your only recourse as a fan is to hope your team “avenges” the “disrespect” by, idk, winning next time?
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) May 31, 2021
Let’s all hope that logo makes a full recovery.
https://youtu.be/UxjnPPyOLD8