Celtics fan who targeted Kyrie Irving facing serious charges after arrest

A Boston Celtics fan who threw a water bottle on Kyrie Irving has been arrested and faces serious charges.

This is not to imply any arrest isn’t serious, but given said fan probably didn’t expect to be facing jail time when he made the decision to attend a Boston Celtics home playoff game, it’s surely an eye-opener, and a deserved one.

As you’ve surely seen by now, a Celtics fan, in this case 21-year-old Cole Buckley, decided to throw a water bottle at former Boston player and current opponent, Irving. Buckley was quickly identified and escorted out of the stadium by security. He now faces a lifetime ban from TD Garden and, of course, possible jail time.

NBA Playoffs: Brooklyn Nets stars come to defense of Kyrie Irving, blast fan for throwing water bottle

Kevin Durant, one of Irving’s best friends and fellow Nets star, came out guns blazing in his postgame press conference, stating there’s no place for such behavior from fans in the modern NBA.

“We are not animals; we are not in the circus. You coming to the game is not all about you as a fan. So, have some respect for the game. Have some respect for the human beings, and have some respect for yourself. Your mother wouldn’t be proud of you throwing water bottles at basketball players or spitting on players or tossing popcorn. So, grow the f— up, and enjoy the game. It’s bigger than you,” Durant said, per ESPN.

Irving spoke postgame as well.

“You’re seeing a lot of old ways come up,” Irving said. “It has been that way in history in terms of entertainment, performers and sports for a long period of time and just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo. Throwing stuff at people, saying things. There is a certain point where it gets to be too much.”

Danny Ainge stated that the Celtics take fan experience seriously, and there is obviously a point where it goes over the line. That line was crossed several times on Sunday night by fans who took issue with how Irving left Boston.

Right or not, their treatment of Kyrie at TD Garden goes beyond the realm of sports. No human deserves such actions directed their way.