What is the backstory behind Kyrie Irving's beef with fans of the Boston Celtics?

For newer Boston Celtics fans, the intense animosity toward Kyrie Irving may seem perplexing, but it originates from his 2017-2019 tenure with the team. Irving, once considered the franchise's cornerstone, publicly pledged to re-sign if fans embraced him—only to depart in free agency shortly after, a move widely perceived as a betrayal by the fanbase.

While some observers contextualized his exit as understandable given team dynamics, the broken promise deeply wounded Celtics supporters who had invested emotionally in his leadership. This legacy of perceived disloyalty fuels ongoing hostility, contrasting sharply with his earlier celebrated status within the organization.

The YouTube channel "Secret Base" has produced a retrospective video dissecting this turbulent era, analyzing Irving's polarizing impact on the Celtics and the lingering resentment it ignited among fans.