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Brooklyn Nets Star Kyrie Irving Fined $25K For 'Obscene Language' Toward Cavaliers Fan

kyrie irving
kyrie irving

Steven Ryan/Getty Images

The NBA has hit Kyrie Irving with a hefty penalty.

On Thursday, the league announced it had fined the 29-year-old Brooklyn Nets point guard $25,000, following an incident with a fan during Monday night's game.

As explained in a statement attributed to Byron Spruell, NBA President of League Operations, Irving was charged "for directing obscene language toward a fan."

The incident occurred during the Nets' 114-107 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse earlier this week. With 4:19 remaining in the second quarter, a Cavaliers fan, who was sitting courtside, could be heard heckling Irving in a now viral video. The seven-time All-Star then responded, "Got y'all a championship and motherf------ still ungrateful."

Irving played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2011-2017, contributing to the 2016 NBA championship title and the franchise's first win in 52 years.

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Representatives for Irving and the Brooklyn Nets did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Irving has only played in five games this season for the Nets due to his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA star returned to the court just two weeks ago after being benched for three months.

The Nets announced their decision to bring back Irving for road games on Dec. 17, as other Nets players were out of commission due to injuries and the need to heed health and safety restrictions.

"We arrived at this decision with the full support of our players and after careful consideration of our current circumstances, including players missing games due to injuries and health and safety protocols," general manager Sean Marks said in a statement at the time.

RELATED: Kyrie Irving Enters COVID Protocols Less Than 24 Hours After Nets Announce His Part-Time Return

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during Round 2, Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 13 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during Round 2, Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 13 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

"We believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand on the entire roster," he added.

Nevertheless, Irving is still unable to play in the Nets' home games due to New York City's COVID-19 guidelines, as he remains unvaccinated.

Irving has maintained his stance on the vaccine, explaining that he can't "be swayed" during Monday's post-game press conference.

"I stay rooted in my decision and that's just what it is," Irving told reporters after he was questioned about reconsidering getting the shot following teammate Kevin Durant's injury.

"I respect everyone else's decision," he continued. "I'm not going to try to convince anyone of anything or anything like that. And though we're dealing with this right now with Kev, I just know that I'm protected by the organization. I'm protected by my teammates. I'm protected by all the doctors I've talked to and I'm just staying rooted."