NBA News: Kyrie Irving Has One Request To Boston Celtics Fans In His Return

The Brooklyn Nets took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Boston Celtics after a dominant 130-108 Game 2 win on Tuesday.

As the series shifts to Boston's homecourt, former Celtics player Kyrie Irving is hoping fans from the arena do not commit any form of racism.

"Hopefully, we can keep it strictly basketball. There is no belligerence or racism going on," Irving quipped via The Athletic.

After six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving spent two years in Boston following a multi-player trade involving Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder, among others.

The playmaker then signed with the Nets, forming a superteam with Kevin Durant.

"Subtle racism and people yelling s--- from the crowd. But even if it is, that's just the nature of the game and we're just going to focus on what we can control."

The seven-time All-Star even went to as far as saying "the whole world knows" about Boston fans' racism, per CBS Boston.

“I’m not the only one that could attest to this. But it’s just… it is what it is. The whole world knows it,” he said.

Irving averaged 24.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in his two seasons with the Celtics, leading them to the playoffs both times.

While Irving has not experienced the racism first-hand, The Athletic did point out that big man DeMarcus Cousins had been a victim of such act before—leading to a Boston fan being banned.

Irving has long been vocal about social issues and has been open about being a practicing Muslim, hoping to influence and impact change using the NBA as his platform.

The Nets will play the Celtics on the road for Games 3 and 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.