It’s Official! Kyrie Irving Announces Decision to Join! Team USA's MVP-Level Point Guard...

In a move that has sparked significant discussion, Kyrie Irving, one of the NBA’s most enigmatic yet talented players, has made a formal decision regarding his international basketball future. Despite being overlooked for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics by Team USA, Irving has expressed his desire to continue representing his country in future competitions. But there’s a twist—if things don’t go as planned with Team USA, Irving is also open to the possibility of playing for Australia in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

At 32 years old, Irving is entering the twilight of his career, but he’s not done chasing greatness. After undergoing surgery to repair a fractured left hand this summer, Irving made his return to the court in the Dallas Mavericks’ preseason matchup against the Utah Jazz, scoring 12 points in 17 minutes. While his physical condition remains in question, his passion for the game and desire to compete at the highest level clearly hasn’t faded.

What makes Irving’s situation even more intriguing is his international eligibility. Although he was born in Melbourne, Australia, Irving holds dual citizenship with both the United States and Australia. While he has previously represented Team USA in international competitions—including winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the MVP award at the 2014 FIBA World Cup—Irving has now expressed an openness to switching allegiances and potentially playing for Australia if he can’t secure a spot on the U.S. roster for the 2028 Games.

To switch national teams in international basketball, Irving would need approval from both USA Basketball and FIBA, the sport’s governing body. Given his accomplishments and contributions to Team USA in the past, the situation is murky. However, the possibility of Irving suiting up for the Australian national team adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. The Australian Boomers have emerged as one of the top teams in the world, finishing 6th at the 2024 FIBA World Cup, and adding a player of Irving’s caliber could elevate them into serious medal contention for the 2028 Olympics.

Irving’s desire to play in the 2028 Los Angeles Games isn’t a far-fetched dream. After all, he’s been a key figure in Team USA’s dominance over the last decade, helping the squad win gold medals in both the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. At the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Irving was instrumental in leading Team USA to victory, averaging 12 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. His performances earned him the tournament's MVP honors. In Rio two years later, he continued his strong international play, posting averages of 11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists to help the U.S. claim yet another gold medal.

Despite these accolades, Irving was snubbed from the roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, a decision that may have left him considering other options. Irving’s omission from Team USA’s plans is surprising to some, especially given his past success on the international stage. It’s even more perplexing considering the U.S. team’s recent struggles, which culminated in a disappointing finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where they failed to reach the medal round.

If Irving were to play for Australia, it could potentially change the landscape of international basketball. Australia has long been on the cusp of breaking through at major tournaments, consistently producing NBA talent such as Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, and Josh Giddey. Adding a player of Irving’s caliber to their roster would immediately make them a medal contender in 2028. However, it’s unclear if USA Basketball or FIBA would allow the switch to happen, as Irving has already represented the U.S. on the biggest stages in basketball.

Australia has been building a formidable national program for years. At the 2023 FIBA World Cup, they were one of the favorites to challenge for a medal but ultimately fell short, losing in the quarterfinals to Serbia, the eventual silver medalists. Nevertheless, the Boomers remain a team on the rise, and with a potential future Hall of Famer like Irving in their ranks, they could make serious noise in 2028.

However, it’s unlikely that USA Basketball would allow Irving to simply walk away and strengthen a potential rival. The U.S. has long been the dominant force in international basketball, but other nations are rapidly closing the gap. With the growing strength of teams like Canada, Serbia, and Spain, the U.S. is no longer guaranteed to dominate on the world stage. If they were to lose Irving to Australia, it would only add to the challenge of maintaining their supremacy.

In fact, USA Basketball has already demonstrated its reluctance to lose talent to other nations. This past summer, they refused to allow Klay Thompson, once one of the top shooters in the NBA, to play for the Bahamas in the Olympic qualifying tournament. Thompson, who has dual citizenship and played alongside Irving for Team USA at the 2014 World Cup, was denied the opportunity to represent the Bahamas despite being past his prime. If USA Basketball won’t let Thompson join another team, it’s hard to imagine they’d be any more willing to let Irving go.

The landscape of international basketball is shifting. In the past, Team USA could rely on its overwhelming talent advantage to cruise to victory, but that dominance is now in question. The rise of other national teams and the aging of the current U.S. stars has exposed cracks in the once-impenetrable American basketball machine. As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, the U.S. men’s basketball team is expected to lean heavily on veterans like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry—three legends who will be 39, 36, and 36, respectively, by the time the tournament begins.

Looking ahead to 2028, the U.S. will be without these icons, which has raised concerns about the future of the program. An early projection for the U.S. roster at the 2028 Los Angeles Games included young stars like Ja Morant, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero, Cooper Flagg (the projected No. 1 pick in 2025), Bam Adebayo, and Chet Holmgren. While this is an impressive list of rising talent, it lacks the Hall of Fame pedigree that previous Team USA rosters have featured.

NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady summed up the concerns succinctly when he said, “I’m looking at the potential roster for the 2028 Olympics, and I’m not seeing any players at the level of LeBron, KD, or Steph.” With the U.S. program no longer guaranteed to dominate, adding a proven international performer like Irving could make all the difference. After all, Irving has already demonstrated that he can lead a team to gold in a major international tournament, and his experience would be invaluable for a young, relatively unproven squad.

If USA Basketball continues to struggle with filling out its roster with elite talent, perhaps they will consider inviting Irving back into the fold for the 2028 Olympics. For now, though, it remains to be seen whether Irving’s international future lies with Team USA or Australia. Either way, Kyrie Irving’s international basketball journey is far from over, and wherever he ends up, he’ll be looking to add another chapter to his already storied career.