"They know what this bitter feeling feels like": Kyrie Irving reflects on viral video of shaking hands with every Celtics player after NBA Finals loss
Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks' aspirations for a second NBA championship were abruptly dashed on Monday. Jason Kidd's group was blown away at TD Garden as Boston registered an emphatic 106-88 win in Game 5 to clinch the NBA Finals 4-1.
Irving struggled throughout the game and failed in his attempt to push the series to a Game 6. After a bitter end to his season, the one-time NBA champion displayed impeccable sportsman spirit before checking out of the game with 2:37 remaining for the final buzzer to sound.
The Mavericks superstar walked up to every Celtics player on the court and on the bench and shook their hands. Irving said that it was his way of paying respect to the opposition.
“So, when I was shaking everybody’s hands, that was more of a sign of respect for their journey," Irving told reporters after the game.
"They have been through an incredible five-year span of going to Game 7s or losing in the Finals, so they know what this bitter feeling feels like being up here answering questions about when this next year holds, and I think they used everything as motivation."
Irving was once again targeted by the hostile Boston crowd inside TD Garden. Chants of "F**k Kyrie" echoed inside the arena on multiple occasions during the game.
Meanwhile, he also applauded every Celtics player for prioritizing the team's goal over individual success after Boston capped off a historic playoff run by lifting the Larry O'Brien trophy:
"They were healthy, and they really kept their head down and weren’t paying attention to any of the personal accolades or individual accolades. I think they just came together as a team and were okay with each person being great in their role and selflessly putting their best foot forward," Irving said.
Kyrie Irving struggled against Celtics in NBA Finals
To have any chance of defeating the formidable Boston Celtics in the finals, the Dallas Mavericks needed their superstars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic to perform at an all-time level. Sadly for Mavs fans, it didn't happen.
Irving struggled throughout the series to get his offense going, particularly because of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White's suffocating defense. Apart from a 35-point outing in Game 3, Irving failed to score more than 21 points in any of the other four games.
Overall, Irving finished the 2024 NBA Finals averaging 19.8 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds. He shot a below-par 41.4% from the field, including 27.6% from beyond the arc.