Six debutants to fly Boomers flag in Traralgon as NBA star Kyrie Irving opts in to the green and gold

NBA superstar and Olympic champion Kyrie Irving wants to play for the Boomers. This is what needs to happen for the Australian born point guard to make the shock switch.

Australian-born NBA superstar Kyrie Irving and Basketball Australia are in meaningful talks about a shock switch that could pave the way for the nine-time NBA All-Star to play for the Boomers at the 2028 LA Olympics.

CODE Sports can reveal the 32-year-old, who beat Australia in 2016 on the way to Rio Olympic gold with Team USA, had begun the complicated process of switching allegiances and representing the Boomers.

Sources confirmed, on Monday afternoon, Irving “has been in touch” with BA and both sides are keen to find a way forward that could eventually result in the remarkably skilled point guard wearing the green and gold.

Kyrie Irving wants to represent the green and gold. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

A source said the Dallas Maverick, who, in 2016, won an NBA championship with Cleveland alongside Boomers Tokyo Olympic bronze medal hero Matthew Dellavedova, was “keen to play for Australia and wants to make it happen.”

Born in Melbourne in 1992, Irving holds dual citizenship courtesy of father Drederick, who was an import for then-SEABL team Bulleen, playing under former Boomers coach Brett Brown.

He would need Team USA to clear him, Basketball Australia to sign off and then approval from FIBA to make the switch happen.

Last year, after he was left off Team USA’s Paris squad, Irving hinted he would entertain a switch. That throwaway line now seems to have developed into something that could materialise after the 188cm former NBA Rookie of the Year said: “Man, we’re in the process of that right now, just trying to figure out the best route for me to be eligible.

Kyrie Irving was part of the 2016 Team USA who won Olympic gold. Picture: Adam Head

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.”

BA chief executive Matt Scriven and Boomers high performance boss Jason Smith are in the USA at the moment for NBA All-Star Weekend.

A Boomers back court of rising NBA stars Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey and Irving, who would be 36 by the time LA rolls around, would pose an intriguing option for the national team’s next coach.

BOOMERS NAME SQUAD FOR COUNTRY VICTORIA GAMES

A trio of ‘uncs’ and a bunch of baby baby Boomers — including six debutants — will fly the flag for Australia in a pair of FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in regional Victoria this week.

Led by Melbourne United assistant coach Jacob Chance, the proximity of the FIBA window to the end of the NBL season and beginning of the playoffs made life tough for selectors to pull together a team for games against Indonesia on Thursday and Thailand on Sunday.

Teens Luke Fennell, a development player at semi final-bound South East Melbourne, and Emmett Adair, out of the BA Centre of Excellence and bound for NCAA division I school Loyola Maryland will make their senior Boomers debuts. They will be joined by 22-year-old Adelaide 36ers rookie big man Ben Griscti, nuggety Perth sharpshooter Elijah Pepper and Brisbane energiser Isaac White in pulling on the green and gold for the first time at the top level.

And big Tassie trier Fabijan Krslovic, at the ripe old age of 29, will make his international debut in Traralgon.

Boomers’ Olympic bronze medallist Nick Kay, as always, has answered the call and will fly in from Japan to lead the way, with ample support from hard-nosed veteran guards Mitch McCarron and Mitch Norton.

NBL semi final-bound pair Luke Brennan (SEM) and Keegan Crawford (Perth) will assist Chance.

Originally published as Six debutants to fly Boomers flag in Traralgon as NBA star Kyrie Irving opts in to the green and gold