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Kyrie Irving Calls Out Underlying Racism After A Celtics Fan Throws Water Bottle At Him

As fans start packing back into NBA arenas in time for the NBA playoffs, incidents between fans and players have proceeded to get out of hand. After Russell Westbrook and Trae Young, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving became the latest victim.

Following their Game 4 win against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Kyrie Irving almost took a water bottle to the head after a fan intentionally tossed it at him as he was heading back to the locker room. The fan was arrested moments later and has already received a lifetime ban from the TD Garden. 

Irving spoke about the incident after the game and later mentioned the ‘underlying racism’ behind these unwanted and disrespectful fan behaviors. 

“It’s been that way in history, in terms of entertainment, performers and sports, for a long period of time of just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo.”

Kyrie Irving on water bottle throwing: "It's been that way in history, in terms of entertainment, performers and sports, for a long period of time of just underlying racism and just treating people like they're in a human zoo." pic.twitter.com/Wsn6syXQLY

— John Chandler (@JohnChandlerNBC) May 31, 2021