Kyrie Irving Admits He Considered Swinging On Payton Pritchard Over Half-Court Bombs In 2024 Finals

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Kyrie Irving Admits He Considered Swinging On Payton Pritchard Over Half-Court Bombs In 2024 Finals originally appeared on Fadeaway World.
Kyrie Irving is never short on raw honesty, and his latest livestream moment proves it once again. While speaking about the Dallas Mavericks' 2024 NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, Irving revealed just how infuriating it was to watch Celtics guard Payton Pritchard sink not one, but two improbable half-court buzzer beaters during the series. The shots didn't just sting; they nearly pushed Kyrie over the edge.
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'By the way, in our locker room, after Payton would hit those f***ing half-court shots , them sh**s would go in and we're going into halftime... I thought about swinging."
"One time though, just to see where he was at. Shoutout PP. I thought about swinging one time. I thought about swinging. How did that half-court shot happen two times?' .
The context makes the sentiment even more understandable. Pritchard, who averaged just 3.4 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 rebounds in the Finals while shooting 25.0% from the field and 18.8% from three, didn't have much of an impact during live game action. But his two biggest moments came on the most demoralizing shots imaginable, deep buzzer-beating heaves that energized Boston and crushed Dallas' momentum.
In Game 2, with the Celtics holding a 6-point lead, Pritchard launched a half-court bomb at the third-quarter buzzer. It swished through, extending Boston's lead to 9 going into the fourth. The Celtics rode that momentum to a 105-98 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Then, in Game 5, with Dallas already trailing 64-46 at halftime, Pritchard nailed another buzzer-beating half-court. It was the only shot he made in that game, and yet it was a backbreaker, a punctuation mark on the Celtics' championship clincher, as they went on to win 106-88 and seal their 18th NBA title.
Irving, who averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in the series while shooting 41.4% from the field and 27.6% from three, had a rocky start in Games 1 and 2 but bounced back with a strong Game 3. Still, it wasn't enough.
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The Celtics took a 3-0 series lead, Dallas fought off the sweep in Game 4, but Boston closed the door in Game 5. The Pritchard daggers, though statistically irrelevant, were emotionally devastating and clearly unforgettable for Kyrie.
Now, Irving is recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in March 2025. He's not rushing the process, especially with the new era in Dallas unfolding. Following the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, the Mavericks won the No. 1 overall pick and selected Cooper Flagg, ushering in a retooling phase around a younger core.
As Irving watches from the sidelines, healing and reflecting, he hasn't lost his humor or honesty. His Pritchard comments, while half-serious, underline just how intense and emotionally draining the Finals were and how even a role player's improbable shot can rattle one of the game's most seasoned superstars.
Related: Despite Controversial Celtics Exit, Kyrie Irving Fondly Recalls His Time In Boston: "I Needed That Change Of Pace"
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.