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Shaq, Charles Sends Kyrie Irving a Message After Star Flips Off Celtics Fans

During a recent podcast interview, Shaq was quick to hilariously throw some more shade at Charles Barkley when asked a question about co-hosts

Charles Barkley, left, and Shaquille O'Neal wrap up an interview at TNT studios after O'Neal joined the cast of the network's "Inside the NBA" for a live media call-in show on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, in Atlanta. O'Neal will be make his televised debut as a new host for the show during the upcoming Christmas Day NBA basketball game. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Kyrie Irving is not a fan of the Celtics fans.

Boston fans were treating him pretty poorly during the Nets’ Game 1 loss to the Celtics in Sunday’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinal. In fact according to Kyrie they crossed the line. Kyrie reacted to all the hate, first by flipping off fans multiple times over the course of his 39-point outing. Then by doubling down on his courtside interactions with his postgame comments.

“[If] somebody’s going to call me out of my name, I’m going to look at them straight in the eye and see if they’re really ’bout it,” Irving said. “Most of the time they’re not.”

Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and the NBA on TNT panel had a much different reaction, essentially telling Irving to man up.

As Charles and Shaq pointed out, crappy fans are nothing new in this league and they’re sure to get more fired up after hearing what Irving had to say Sunday.

We’ll see if Kyrie is able to take on the Celtics and their crowd in Game 2 this Wednesday night.

But one thing’s for sure Kyrie isn’t about to tune out anyone, that could be a serious problem if the Nets want to upset the C’s.


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