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

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Boston Celtics Guard Marcus Smart (36) during a NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 20, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

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.

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

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.”

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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