Accused Water Bottle-Tosser Must Stay Away From TD Garden

BOSTON — The 21-year-old Braintree man accused of throwing a water bottle at Kyrie Iriving after a Boston Celtics game was ordered to stay away from TD Garden at his arraignment Wednesday morning at Boston Municipal Court.

Cole Buckley pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was released on $500 bond and is scheduled to return for a pre-trial hearing Aug. 5.

"It is not lost on me that the NBA is overwhelmingly black men and we have fans who are overwhelmingly white men who believe they can engage in this type of behavior," District Attorney Rachael Rollins said outside the courthouse, according to 7News. "It is not appropriate and it certainly is not going happen here in Suffolk County."

Authorities said Buckley threw the water bottle as Irving made his way into the locker room area shortly after the Celtics' loss to Irving's Brooklyn Nets Sunday night at TD Garden. The water bottle grazed Irving's head, according to a police report.

Irving had been the subject of fan criticism since leaving Boston two years ago, but it intensified during the playoff series. Irving, who had not played in front of Celtics fans since joining the Nets, said before the game he hoped fans kept away from "subtle racism."

After the game, Irving went out of his way to stomp on the Celtics logo at midcourt right before leaving the court — and right before the water bottle came.

The incident received increased scrutiny amid a spate of fan misbehavior at NBA games as the league welcomed spectators back following the pandemic restrictions.

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