Celtics guard Kyrie Irving apologizes for saying '(expletive) Thanksgiving'

Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving apologized Thursday for a profane comment he made about Thanksgiving after the previous night's loss to the New York Knicks.

According to multiple reports, an NBC Sports Boston reporter wished Irving a happy Thanksgiving after he had made his postgame comments to the media. Irving thanked the reporter but explained that he does not celebrate the holiday, adding "(expletive) Thanksgiving."

"I spoke w/ frustration after last nights game and spoke words that shouldn’t be in a professional setting no matter what," he wrote in an apology on Twitter on Thursday morning. "Meant no disrespect to the Holiday and those who celebrate it respectfully. I’m grateful for the time We all can share with our families. We are always ONE."

The NBC Sports Boston reporter, Abby Chin, confirmed to MassLive.com that Irving's objection with the holiday stems from his Native American heritage.

Irving's late mother, Elizabeth Ann Larson, was adopted out of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Celtics point guard was honored by the tribe in North Dakota in August. Irving also has a tattoo of the tribe's logo on his neck.

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While Thanksgiving has become a popular holiday throughout the United States, some in the Native American community believe it is not worthy of celebration, citing instances of racism and oppression following the arrival of European settlers. Some in the Native American community instead choose to observe Thursday as a National Day of Mourning.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.