- He was born in Melbourne before moving to the United States.
- I wanted to play for Australia when I was a teenager
- It could make a dramatic change on American soil
The Australian Boomers could have a real NBA weapon when they compete in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and that’s not counting Ben Simmons.
As former number one draft pick Simmons continues to turn down the opportunity to represent his country due to injury concerns, another former number one pick has expressed interest in making a surprise move to the Australian Boomers.
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has won three gold medals playing for Team USA, at the youth level, in the Olympics and at the FIBA World Cup.
But after being snubbed for the 2024 Paris games, he has his eyes set on a dramatic turnaround to play the United States at home.
Irving was born in Melbourne before moving to the United States when he was two years old.
Although he would be 36 years old when the Los Angeles Games begin, the eight-time NBA All-Star is eager to play in the green and gold.
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving was born in Australia and wants to represent his native country at the Los Angeles Olympics.
After being left out of the medal count at the Paris Olympics, the Aussie Boomers would welcome a player of Irving’s experience and ability.
“I would love to have fun playing for the Australian team,” Irving told The Athletic.
“I don’t think it’s a very 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 difficult transition to make, but I don’t want to fall into the same thing, I would probably say, I’m trying to be very intentional with my words here.
“I don’t want to fall into the trap of feeling let down or disappointed when I know there are other opportunities for me.”
This is not the first time Irving has tried to play for Australia.
Irving previously won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Mavericks star admitted in 2023 that he wanted to play for his country of birth only to have the move blocked by Team USA when he was 17 years old.
“I consider myself an international player even though I played on Team USA,” Irving said in a Twitch stream.
‘A lot of my peers laugh at me when I bring it up and some fans may disagree, but I was born in Australia.
‘The US team 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 Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski) wasn’t going to let that happen either.”
Irving would require both Team USA and FIBA to grant him clearance to play for Australia for the move to become a reality.
Irving previously revealed he wanted to play for Australia soon, but the US team blocked the move.
The electric guard also admitted that he was disappointed not to make the Paris Olympics team, especially since he did not have the same opportunities to make the final team compared to previous years.
“I won’t say it was painful not being able to try, but it was strange that we couldn’t try and come together as a group, because the US team is not just 12 or 15 guys,” he said.
‘I played on the US team when I was 17 or 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’s some pride there and I have history.
‘There was such a big competitive group that you can test yourself against because it’s the best in the world. It’s not every day you have the opportunity to face (players of that caliber)’.
