Nick Kyrgios, the fiery Australian tennis star known for his flair on the court and unapologetic passion off it, is riding a wave of euphoria as his beloved Boston Celtics storm into the 2025 NBA Playoffs with a commanding 2-0 lead over the Orlando Magic. The 29-year-old, never shy about his devotion to the Celtics, took to social media to share his excitement, his posts brimming with the same intensity he brings to a five-set tennis thriller. For Kyrgios, a lifelong fan whose love for the team began with a PlayStation game in 2006, Boston’s early playoff dominance is more than a sporting triumph—it’s a personal victory that resonates deeply.
The Celtics, fresh off their 2024 NBA championship and an 18th title that Kyrgios called “one of the happiest moments of my life,” entered the postseason as the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed with a 61-21 record. Their first-round matchup against the No. 7 Orlando Magic, who scrapped their way to a 41-41 record and a Play-In victory over Atlanta, promised a physical battle. Yet Boston has asserted its dominance, winning Game 1 on April 20 by a score of 108-94 and following up with a gritty 102-87 victory in Game 2 on April 23, despite a scare when Kristaps Porzingis briefly left with a forehead gash after an elbow from Magic’s Goga Bitadze. Kyrgios, watching from afar, was quick to celebrate, posting, “Celtics in four,” echoing analysts’ predictions of a swift series sweep.
Kyrgios’s connection to the Celtics runs deeper than casual fandom. Growing up in Canberra, Australia, he discovered the team through NBA Live on his PlayStation Portable, drawn to their iconic green logo and Paul Pierce’s silky jumper, despite their dismal 2005 rating. “I was just starting to travel a lot for tennis all over Australia, and I needed a way to pass the time,” he once wrote, recalling how the Celtics became his obsession. That bond has endured, with Kyrgios often spotted in Celtics jerseys during tennis warm-ups and even collaborating with former Celtic Kyrie Irving on a Nike sneaker in 2019. His passion has led to dramatic moments, like burning a Jayson Tatum jersey after Boston’s 2023 Game 7 loss to Miami—a gesture he later admitted was fueled by heartbreak rather than disloyalty.
Boston’s Game 2 win showcased the team’s depth and resilience, even with concerns about Jaylen Brown’s lingering knee issue. Tatum led with 28 points, while Porzingis, returning to the game with a cleaned-up wound, added 18 points and seven rebounds. The Celtics’ league-leading 3-point attack, which set records with 1,364 makes in the regular season, overwhelmed Orlando’s stingy defense, which had held opponents to the fewest 3-point attempts all year. “When they move the ball, they keep scoring in any sort of way,” Kyrgios said last year, praising Boston’s offensive fluidity, a trait on full display as they held Orlando to under 90 points for the second straight game.
For Kyrgios, the Celtics’ success is a balm amid his own challenges. After securing his first tennis win in two years at the 2025 Miami Open, he’s navigating a comeback from injuries and a polarizing reputation. His love for basketball, particularly the Celtics, remains a constant. “I make time, trust I make time,” he once said about watching games at 3 a.m. during European tournaments. His social media buzzed with support for Tatum and Brown, whom he’s defended fiercely against critics. “Your apology should be
Leave a Reply