A Boston Celtics fan has been arrested and banned for life from TD Garden after allegedly throwing a water bottle at Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving on Sunday, the arena announced in a statement.
The incident occurred at the end of Sunday’s game, as Irving walked into the tunnel headed for the locker room after beating his old team in front of a full-capacity TD Garden in Boston. Celtics guard Marcus Smart said the fan was “dealt with by arena security.”
Brooklyn took a 3-1 series lead with a 141-126 win and is now just one win away from the second round of the NBA playoffs.
“You’re seeing a lot of old ways come up,” Irving told reporters about the incident after the game. “Just underlying racism and treating people like they’re in a human zoo.”
This is just the latest of a handful of incidents involving fans harassing opposing teams’ players in NBA playoff games, as the COVID-19 pandemic retreats and arenas welcome back more spectators. Kevin Durant spoke out after the alleged situation with Irving.
“We are not in the circus,” said Durant. “Your mother wouldn’t be proud of you throwing water bottles at basketball players. Grow the [expletive]up and enjoy the game. It’s bigger than you.”
Fans of the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz have already been banned or removed from arenas this year for abusing players from the opposing team.
On Friday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said there would be “zero tolerance” for inappropriate fan behaviour.
“No one is going to get away with an act like that,” said Silver. You’re going to be caught. You’re going to be banned from an arena. In some cases there may be criminal prosecution depending if the conduct rises to that level of an assault or something that the police are going to take note of.”
