BOSTON -- Monday night brought joy to Celtics fans as their team clinched the NBA title, simultaneously sending Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks home empty-handed. Irving, often seen as a villain in Boston, experienced a rough championship round, with the Mavericks losing all three games at TD Garden.


Five years have passed since Irving left the Celtics via free agency, yet Boston fans remain unhappy with the talented but unpredictable guard. Throughout the series, Irving's actions did little to mend his image in Boston. He criticized the Boston crowd after Game 1 and referred to the Celtics as a "cult" prior to Game 5.


**A Surprising Gesture**

Despite the animosity, Celtics fans had the last laugh, celebrating the franchise's 18th title at the expense of Irving and his team. Before leaving the court after Boston's decisive 108-66 victory on Monday night, Irving stopped by the Celtics' bench to congratulate his former team. This gesture, surprising to many including head coach Joe Mazzulla, was a sign of respect from Irving, who maintains close relationships with several Celtics players.


After the game, Irving explained that his visit to the Celtics' bench was meant to honor their journey to the NBA title. He acknowledged that the Celtics had become the perfect team during their postseason run.


"It was emotional anyway," Irving said. "Every series was emotional, just because I was uncertain about how it was going to go and how we were going to respond to adversity. We finally ran into a team that beat us fair and square. We weren't able to respond to their runs or execute at a high level. Shaking everyone's hands was a sign of respect for their journey. 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. They used everything as motivation."


**Team Unity and Growth**

Irving praised the Celtics for their unity and focus, highlighting how they came together as a team, ignoring personal accolades for the greater good.



"They were healthy, kept their heads down, and didn't pay attention to personal accolades. They came together as a team, each person being great in their role and selflessly putting their best foot forward," he added. "We learned from this series what it takes to not only reach this level but win at this level. The Celtics are the perfect example because of how much they've dealt with in recent years."


Irving's departure from the Celtics could have destabilized the franchise, but instead, it propelled the development of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Their growth, coupled with strategic roster moves, culminated in Monday's championship win. Irving commended his former teammates for their perseverance and ability to focus amidst external noise.


**Praising Brown and Tatum**

"It's admirable. Did [Jaylen Brown] win Finals MVP? Yeah, that was big-time. I think he and JT should have split it, but those two guys have almost been like students and now becoming teachers in their own right," Irving said of Tatum and Brown. "I'm really proud and also extremely motivated to get back to this position with my guys and win this thing."


The Celtics' defense stifled Irving throughout the Finals. He averaged 19.8 points per game, bolstered by a 35-point effort in Game 3. However, Irving struggled overall, scoring just 28 points in the first two games and only 15 points in Game 5, shooting 27.6 percent from three-point range for the series.



**Looking Ahead**

Reflecting on his first full season in Dallas, Irving expressed hope that the Mavericks could emulate the Celtics' success.


"Basketball is a game of centimeters, sometimes inches. When a ball is flying off your hands, sometimes it feels good, sometimes it doesn't. That's the maturity aspect," he said. "Whether I'm scoring well or not, there's a team aspect we're dialing into. We have to pick each other up. We’re learning about each other, and that's what the summer is for—working on things I saw this year, adjusting to physicality, and being in a better position next year."


Irving remains confident in Dallas' future, believing they will return to title contention.


"I see an opportunity for us to build our future positively, where competing for championships becomes regular for us. From a spiritual standpoint, I enjoyed this journey more than any other season because of the redemption arc and learning about myself, my teammates, and the organization. There are a lot of good people here, making work fun," he said.


While Boston fans may continue to harbor some resentment toward Irving for his departure and antics, it's clear that his exit allowed Tatum and Brown to flourish into champions. In retrospect, his departure was a blessing in disguise for the Celtics.