What ‘missing piece’ Kyrie Irving must do to seal switch from USA Basketball to the Boomers

Kyrie Irving is an Olympic gold medal winner and an NBA champion - but what does he need to do to make the switch and play for the Boomers? The ball is in his court, writes Matt Logue.

The ball is in Kyrie Irving’s court if he wants to start the process of potentially becoming an Australian Boomer at the 2028 LA Olympics.

That’s the message from USA Basketball, who confirmed Irving was yet to speak to officials about a clearance to switch his international allegiance.

“USA Basketball has not been approached about this change of basketball nationality,” an official spokesperson told Code Sports.

Irving needs USA Basketball to clear him to switch to Australia given he has already played for America at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Dallas Mavericks guard then requires Basketball Australia to sign off and then approval from FIBA to make the bold move to the Boomers a reality.

The ball is in Kyrie Irving’s court if he wants to play for Australia. Picture: Getty

Irving – a dual citizen born in Melbourne - was in contention to represent Australia at the 2012 London Olympics but withdrew to focus on the US.

“It was the right decision,” Irving said at the time.

“I found out Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) would be coaching (Team USA) in 2016.

“It made my decision so much easier to play for my (Duke) coach again.

“That was the deciding factor.”

Boomers greats, including Andrew Gaze and former coach Brian Goorjian have endorsed Irving potentially donning the green and gold.

Goorjian believes the 2016 NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers would be an offensive asset if he gained approval to play for Australia.

“As far as Kyrie’s basketball is concerned and the Boomers roster assembled, him playing would be exciting,” Goorjian said

Boomers great Andrew Gaze has endorsed Irving donning the green and gold. Picture: Getty

WHY KYRIE IRVING IS THE BOOMERS’ ‘MISSING PIECE’

By Matt Logue and Michael Randall

NBA superstar Kyrie Irving’s bold bid to play for Australia is no surprise to former national coach Brian Goorjian, with the master mentor describing the guard as the Boomers’ “missing piece”.

Goorjian revealed Irving expressed a desire to don the green and gold prior to last year’s Paris Olympics and he’d love to see the plan become reality.

The possibility of the NBA veteran switching his national allegiance from the United States to Australia grew momentum on Monday when he confirmed he was hoping to play for the Boomers at the 2028 LA Olympics.

It comes as this masthead revealed the Dallas Mavericks guard has started meaningful talks with Basketball Australia about a shock switch.

Kyrie Irving in action against the Boomers during the Rio Olympics in 2016. Picture: Adam Head

Goorjian wasn’t as startled by the news – telling Code Sports Irving’s ambition to represent Australia reached his desk last July, just weeks after the NBA star was left off the Team USA squad for Paris.

“It (Irving wanting to play for Australia) was mentioned to me and my mindset was if it became a reality, let’s discuss it,” Goorjian said.

“It never got to where it is now, but when the news broke I wasn’t shocked because it had been floated before that he was interested in becoming an Australian.”

Irving – born in Melbourne – would need Team USA to clear him, Basketball Australia to sign off and then approval from FIBA to make the switch happen.

Kyrie Irving could be set for a shock switch of international allegiances which could pave the way for the NBA star to play for the Boomers.

DETAILS 👉 https://t.co/PM6eVei6eCpic.twitter.com/gVFm2tps6d

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) February 17, 2025

There are no guarantees the Americans or FIBA give the NBA champion the green light, but Goorjian says the Australians would benefit from a clutch playmaker because it is an option they didn’t have in Paris.

“That (scorer) is a piece the Boomers miss and that is what Kyrie does,” he said.

“And when you look at the roster that is the piece that you are not doubling up on and there is excitement for that I feel.

“The other aspect was we lost to the best teams in the world (at the Paris Games) and they were close games.

“With Serbia, the ball was in the Joker’s (Nikola Jokic) hand to finish it. With Canada it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and against Greece it was Giannis (Antetokounmpo).

“When you look at the role (Josh) Green plays, (Josh) Giddey one of the best passers in the world and (Dyson) Daniels is developing into a defensive juggernaut.

“Our (scoring) piece moving forward - who is that guy?”

Kyrie Irving remains one of the NBA’s elite players. Picture: Getty

Boomers Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Nick Kay would also welcome a world-class player like Irving if he gained approval to play for Australia.

“The fact that a player of that calibre is interested means Australian basketball is doing the right thing and I think it’d be great for Australian basketball to get a guy like him involved,” Kay said prior to this weekend’s Asia Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and Thailand in Traralgon.

“There’s obviously a lot of guys who are going to be competing for spots so the more competition the better.

“For me, at the end of the day as long as the Boomers are competing for a gold medal, then I think we’ll be in a great spot.”

Originally published as What ‘missing piece’ Kyrie Irving must do to seal switch from USA Basketball to the Boomers