The NBA fined Brooklyn Nets guard and former Cavalier Kyrie Irving $25,000 for obscene language directed toward a Cavs fans during the team’s recent game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The incident happened with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter of the Nets’ 114-107 loss to the Cavaliers on Jan. 17 after the fan heckled Irving.
Despite hitting the game-winning shot that brought Cleveland its first championship in 51 years in 2016, Cavs fans have had an acrimonious relationship with the controversial Irving. After apparently forcing a trade to get out of Cleveland, Irving took a few shots at the city and its fans for lacking sports pedigree.
Irving himself has been a lightning rod because of stances against COVID-19 vaccines and a belief that the Earth is flat.