Marcus Smart Confirms Kyrie Irving’s Claim That Boston Fans Have Been Racist During Games

Former Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving will be returning to the TD Garden on Friday for Game 3 between the Nets and Celtics.

He isn’t worried about the taunts he’ll get during the game (and he’ll be getting a lot of them). But he is worried about ‘subtle racism’ that he has heard from Boston fans in the past.

Kyrie Hopes For No ‘Subtle Racism’ in His Return to Boston https://t.co/Wuw5BERTNZ

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) May 26, 2021

In response to the comment from Kyrie, general manager Danny Ainge sounded a little skeptical that anything racist was actually said to him.

Danny Ainge Responds With Skepticism To Kyrie Irving’s ‘Subtle Racism’ Claimhttps://t.co/O25cixUdiq

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) May 27, 2021

Despite Ainge’s comments, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart admitted that he has heard some unsettling things from fans at TD Garden.

“Yeah, I’ve heard it. I’ve heard a couple of things,” Smart said when asked if he’s heard Boston fans make racist comments, per Keith Smith. “It’s hard to hear that and then have them support us as players. It’s kind of sad and sickening.”

Marcus Smart on if he's heard Boston fans make racist comments: "Yeah, I've heard it. I've hard a couple of things. It's hard to hear that and then have them support us as players. It's kind of sad and sickening."

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 27, 2021

Danny Ainge definitely comes off a little tone-deaf here. Boston fans have had a history of racism at sporting events, and it’s no surprise that Kyrie would have fallen victim to that after the way things ended with the team.

Props to Marcus Smart for admitting what he’s heard, and to call on the Celtics fans to be better.

Hopefully the Bostonians can keep their taunts to basketball on Friday night.

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