NBA champion Kyrie Irving floats possibility of representing Australia
Superstar Kyrie Irving, who was born in Australia, has discussed the shock possibility of joining the Boomers for the LA Olympics.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has floated the possibility of representing Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 32-year-old, who was born in Melbourne before relocating to the United States as an infant, represented Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, winning gold on both occasions.
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However, the eight-time NBA All-Star was snubbed for this year’s Olympic campaign in Paris, with the United States winning gold in his absence.
Speaking to The Athletic this week, Irving entertained the possibility of switching allegiances ahead of the next Olympics, albeit confessing it was unlikely.
“I would love to entertain playing for Team Australia, man,” Irving said.
“I don’t think it’s a strong, strong possibility at this point, depending on what the Olympic Committee does.
“But as a competitor, I was born in Australia.
“For me, it’s not a hard transition to make … I don’t want to fall into the trap of being let down or disappointed when I know that there are other opportunities out there for me.”
Irving, a former No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, will be 36 when the LA Games commence, while both Team USA and FIBA would need to grant him a release to play for the Boomers.
Last year, the 2016 NBA champion with Cleveland revealed that Team USA blocked him from representing Australia when he was a teenager.
“I consider myself an international player even though I played on Team USA,” Irving said at the time.
“A lot of my peers laugh at me when I bring it up and some fans may not agree, but I was born in Australia.
“Team USA asked me to play for them when I was 17 or 18 … I wanted to play for Australia, but it just didn’t happen.
“Coach K (former US coach Mike Krzyzewski) wasn’t going to let that happen either.”
Meanwhile, Irving confessed he was disappointed to be left out for the Paris Olympics, especially considering he wasn’t given a chance to try out for the team.
“I won’t say it was hurtful not to be able to try out, but it just was weird that we weren’t able to try out and get together as a group, because the USA team is not just 12 guys or 15 guys,” he continued.
“I was playing on Team USA when I was 17, 18. I won three gold medals. I won when I was 18, when I was 22, and I won one when I was 24.
“So there is a pride thing there and I have history.
“There was such a great competitive pool that you can test yourself against because it’s the best in the world. It’s not every day you get a chance to go against (players of that calibre).”
Originally published as NBA champion Kyrie Irving floats possibility of representing Australia
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