Why did Kyrie Irving call the Boston Celtics “a cult”?

Kyrie Irving is now a veteran of four NBA Finals series but this year’s battle holds particular significance. The Dallas Mavericks star played for the Boston Celtics for two years from 2017 to 2019 and is eager to prove himself once more against his former team.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Irving reflected on his spell with the Celtics, admitting that he struggled to buy into “the cult” of their illustrious History.

“You have to show your respect here,” Irving explained. “I think that’s what I struggled with initially, was figuring out how I’m going to be a great player here while winning championships and also leading a team and selflessly joining the Celtics’ organization or the cult that they have here.”

He continued: “That’s what they expect you to do as a player. They expect you to seamlessly buy into the Celtics’ pride, buy into everything Celtics. And if you don’t, then you’ll be outed.”

When was the last time Kyrie Irving won a championship?

Now 32 years old, Irving has spent 13 years in the NBA and played for four different teams. However the eight-time NBA All-Star has only won one championship ring, as a part of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team.

Irving was a part of the Cavs’ famed ‘Big Three’ alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love. Irving missed the start of the 2016 NBA season due to a left kneecap fracture sustained in Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals. In the course of the 2016 Finals against the Golden States Warriors the Cavs became the first team in NBA history to win a Finals series from a 3-1 deficit. That is exactly the same task that faces the Mavericks ahead of Game 5.

“What I’m sharing with my teammates now is just enjoy the moment,” Irving said as he prepares for another hostile welcome at TD Garden. “We got a chance to accomplish one of our goals, which is to make it back to Boston. We have another goal in front of us, and that’s to make it back to Dallas.”