Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Monday after the team’s exit interviews.
“Kyrie had a deviated septum, had some surgery on that, and so I don’t think he wanted to be seen,” said Ainge, who turned playful while noting, “He’s a really good-looking guy. He can’t ruin his movie career.”
Irving’s agent, Jeff Wechsler, told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan that the point guard wanted to attend the game but couldn’t fly because of the surgery.
“It was a residual from the facial fracture he had earlier in the season,” Wechsler said, referring to the injury Irving suffered in November. “He had the knee surgery, and now he’s taken care of this sinus surgery, so he will be all set going forward.”
Mark Jackson is calling out Kyrie Irving for not being on the #Celtics bench tonight.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) May 28, 2018
Kyrie Irving not on the bench in Boston? WOW.
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) May 28, 2018
Why is no one talking about how Kyrie Irving wasn’t even on the Celtics bench during the biggest game of all of those young players careers? #NBA #NBAPlayoffs
— Mike Yourstowsky (@TheRisingSKI) May 28, 2018
Kevin Love is there but Kyrie Irving is not.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) May 28, 2018
Kevin Love was concussed and made the trip to Boston.
Kyrie Irving had surgery weeks ago and couldn't find his way to the arena. #Cavs
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) May 28, 2018
Not sure what this means, but if I’m Kyrie, I’m waiting until after the season to schedule surgery for my ‘deviated septum’ This is not a good sign for Kyrie being with the Celts long term.
My sources tell me Kyrie Irving stepped off the edge of Earth last night. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/E8iU3A6me0
— CleWest (@erjmanlasvegas) May 28, 2018
