Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics, is interested in representing Australia in the 2028 Games, writes Grant Afseth of Athlon Sports. Irving, who was born in Melbourne and has joint U.S. and Australian citizenship, has already explored the steps that would be necessary to make the change.
“Man, we’re in the process of that right now, just trying to figure out the best route for me to be eligible,” he said at All-Star Weekend. “There’s a lot of paperwork involved. Obviously, USA still has a decision to make, but for me, I’m just trying to do what’s best. Honestly, if I can be an Aussie at one point in my career and play for the Australian team, that would be great.”
Irving first floated the idea of switching teams last fall, Afseth adds. That came after he was passed over for the 2024 U.S. squad that captured gold in Paris, despite expressing his interest in playing to Team USA Managing Director Grant Hill on numerous occasions.
“I had communication with Grant throughout the season, but I think it was more or less a surprise that I wanted to play,” Irving said in an October interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I think it was just a surprise that I wanted to play and [that] I was engaged. I speak on this from a healthy standpoint, like let me make sure that’s clear too. It wasn’t jealousy. It was like, ‘Oh, OK, this means that there’s an extra motivation, just naturally, where, OK, I guess 2028 [is the plan]?’ And maybe it’s not for Team USA. I’m just really proud of the [Team USA] guys, at the end of the day.”
Irving continues to put up elite numbers at age 32, averaging 24.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 44 games. However, Amick notes that he’ll be 36 when Los Angeles hosts the Games in 2028 and will face plenty of competition from younger American players.
His path toward an Olympic spot figures to be easier with Australia, although the Boomers have established themselves as one of the best teams in international basketball. Afseth states that Irving will need clearance from both USA Basketball and FIBA before he could play for Australia.
Now let’s get Klay to play for the Bahamas!
Yep, that sounds right pair him with Hield, Ayton, Kai Jones
You forgot their best player, Valdez Edgecombe
Flat earth moron. Good luck.
Australia would become a legit contender. Team USA snubbed kyrie cuz of salty king James, and I won’t be surprised if they also make it difficult for him to play in Australia.
As a U.S based hoops fan, I would prefer watching kyrie vs the americunts, than watching him bring more star power onto team USA.
MBGA
The tinfoil hat must be a little tight if you think LeBron was a reason Kyrie wasn’t on the team. LeBron was even recruiting/pushing for the Lakers to acquire Kyrie in the past couple of seasons. Simply put, Kyrie didn’t get in because they didn’t need his skillset.
The only two guys who he had an argument over was Haliburton and White. White was a last minute, glue guy replacement and Haliburton got in since he’s more of a true point guard than Kyrie or Brunson + has more size to be a better matchup against bigger teams (and Haliburton didn’t even play much because they didn’t need him). Building an Olympic roster isn’t as simple as just picking the 12 best players, each player has a specific role and has to be willing to buy into that role.
Kyrie and Lebron are the same type of anti-science idiots. So no.
Always thought he was from NJ ……
I don’t care what this man does. As long as its Never on Knicks ……
I can see it in now ……… with just seconds left in the gold-medal match and a chance to win it all, Ben Simmons has the ball and is wide-open, as Kyrie shouts for Ben to shoot it.
Make sure you go east Kyrie, if you go west you’ll fall off the side of the earth! Unless polio or measles get you first.
would love to see kyrie play with ben simmons and andrew bogut lol
Isn’t Australia on the other side of the (flat) earth? Won’t he fall off?
I worry about him.
Nico will give his homie Kyrie the Max contract this summer…but wont give max to white boy doncic