Kyrie Irving could play for surprise team in 2028 Olympics?

Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Uncle Drew may be going back to his roots come the next Olympic Games.

Dallas Mavericks All-Star guard Kyrie Irving spoke this week to Sam Amick of The Athletic for a wide-ranging interview. At one point in the interview, Irving discussed the upcoming 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and said that he would be open to playing for Australia if he is not selected for the United States team.

“I would love to entertain playing for Team Australia, man,” the three-time All-NBA selection Irving said. “But as a competitor, I was born in Australia. For me, it’s not a hard transition to make, but I don’t wanna fall into … the trap of being let down or disappointed when I know that there are other opportunities out there for me.”

Indeed, Irving, who will be 36 years old come the 2028 Olympics, was born in Melbourne and spent the first two years of his life in Australia. Though Irving holds dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Australia, he would need to receive approval to play for Australia from both FIBA and Team USA, Amick adds.

Irving has already achieved a lot of success on the international stage for Team USA. He was a member of the Olympic team that won gold in Rio in 2016, and he also helped lead Team USA to a FIBA World Cup gold medal in 2014. But Irving was not selected for the USA Basketball team that went to the Paris Olympics this year, which may open the door for him to consider playing elsewhere. It is worth noting too that Irving once revealed that he almost played for Australia as a teenager before a notable figure intervened .

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