Kyrie Irving losing streak vs. Celtics: Why NBA fans think Mavericks star is cursed after stomping on Boston logo

Boston has not been kind to Kyrie Irving. 

We're not talking about the fan base or the organization itself. The two sides have their history with each other dating back to Irving's days with the Celtics, and his departure from the team left uneasy feelings with the Boston faithful. 

Instead, we're talking about the on-court results, which have heavily favored the green and white over the All-Star guard. 

Irving entered the 2024 NBA Finals on a 10-game losing streak to the Celtics, including games in both the regular season and the postseason. The streak dates back to his days as a member of the Nets, and has carried over into his time with the Mavericks. 

That streak has since been extended to 13 games, as the Celtics have gone up 3-0 against Irving and the Mavs. 

"Yeah, it's not the first time I've lost in Boston," Irving said after the Game 1 loss. "I don't want to continue to make it a habit, but they've had a few games over me and they have our number — not our number, I don't want to say our number, but the past few teams I've been on, they have had my number a little bit. You have to give credit to a good team. They have been good the past three or four years."

The long string of Ls in a row has started to get NBA fans thinking that this is karma for Irving's previous actions in Boston. It may not be a coincidence that the losing streak can be traced back to a controversial incident involving Irving and the Celtics logo. 

MORE: Why Celtics fans are booing Kyrie Irving in 2024 NBA Finals

Here is more to know on Irving's losing streak to the Celtics and why fans think he may be cursed. 

Kyrie Irving losing streak vs. Celtics

The losing streak for Irving against the Celtics dates back to the incident involving Lucky the Leprechaun, the logo of the Boston team. 

In May 2021, Irving ruffled some feathers by scuffing up the logo at center court following a Game 4 win over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference First Round. The guard purposely stomped on Lucky, causing a reaction out of the Boston fan base and former players. 

Kyrie appeared to step on the Boston logo as he greeted his teammates at half court postgame.

(via @yornoc74) pic.twitter.com/thcXjX15He

— ESPN (@espn) May 31, 2021

Technically, the losing did not start right after the incident with Lucky. Following that Game 4 win in Boston, the Nets closed out the series with a victory in Game 5, eliminating the Celtics from the 2021 postseason. 

However, in the games that have followed that series, it's been all downhill for Irving and his teams against Boston. 

MORE: Jaylen Brown's dominance highlights takeaways from NBA Finals Game 1

Irving has not won a game against the Celtics since the conclusion of that 2021 playoff series. The streak started when he was still a member of the Nets and has carried over into his time with the Mavericks. 

He is 0-6 in the regular season when playing Boston, and now is 0-7 in the playoffs. Irving and the Mavericks were swept by the Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference First Round, and on the verge of a sweep in the 2024 NBA Finals. 

Kyrie Irving career record vs. Celtics

Irving hasn't always struggled against the Celtics. In the regular season, the guard owns a record of 12-14 against the Boston team, spanning from the start of his career with the Cavaliers to the Nets and now with the Mavericks. 

MORE: Kyrie Irving's timeline of controversial Celtics moments

His postseason record is better. Irving's teams are 12-9 against Boston come playoff time.

That includes a sweep of the Celtics in the 2015 Eastern Conference First Round with the Cavaliers, a win in five games over the Celtics with the Cavs in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, and a series victory in five games with the Nets in the 2021 Eastern Conference First Round.