Celtics Find Clever Way To Dig Former Boston Star Kyrie Irving

Celtics star Jayson Tatum joined an exclusive group Wednesday.

Tatum was awarded the cover for the standard edition of “NBA2K25” a few weeks after winning his first NBA championship. The five-time All-Star now is one of four Celtics to be featured on a cover of the popular video game, joining former teammate Kyrie Irving and Basketball Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Larry Bird.

Boston celebrated those legends on social media after the Tatum announcement — some of them, at least. The Celtics’ official X account sent a post of Tatum, Garnett and Bird with a caption that read, “Three Celtics champions turned @NBA2K cover athletes.”

The C’s do have some wiggle room to claim the post wasn’t intended to slight Irving. The star point guard was still a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers when he was named the cover player for “NBA2K18,” but the franchise eventually put out editions with Irving wearing a Celtics uniform. Of course, Irving’s relationship with the storied franchise went south after his first season in Boston, and it might be fractured beyond repair.

Regardless, the Celtics shouldn’t feel inclined to stick it to Irving. Boston has been very successful since he left town, highlighted by a Finals win over Irving’s Dallas Mavericks.