Kyrie Irving, the guard of the Dallas Mavericks, has voiced his desire to represent Australia at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The news has sparked excitement among Australian basketball fans and players alike. Dyson Daniels, a Hawks guard, expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility and delight at Irving joining the Boomers.
Irving’s Current Status
Irving was born in Melbourne and has dual citizenship in Australia and America. At NBA All-Star Weekend, he stated that he has started applying for eligibility to play for Australia.
“We’re in the process of that right now, just trying to figure out what’s going to be the best route for me to be eligible,” Irving said. “The ‘There’sot of paperwork in between that.”
Irving’s move to Australia requires official approval since he won gold medals at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics while playing for Team USA. USA Basketball’s transition involves the approval of both Basketball Australia and FIBA.
Dyson Daniels Welcomes Irving
Daniels, an up-and-comer in Australia’s team setup, supported Irving’s inclusion in the Boomers squad.
“Oh yeah, I love it. I love it,” Daniels told Grant Afseth of RG. “I know he wants to do it. We want him to come play for us. There’s a lot of stuff that has to get cleared for him to come play, but we welcome him with open arms. He’s a brother. He’s an Australian. You know our hearts, so we definitely want him to come play for us.”
Irving’s sense would add a veteran presence and elite-level skill set to an Australian team that has consistently been competitive internationally. The team finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and secured a bronze medal at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.
Irving’s Current Status
Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while playing against the Sacramento Kings, ending his season.
In his 50 games for the Mavericks this season, he still had an average score of 24.7, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Despite his uncertain injury timeline for the 2025-26 NBA season, if he recovers and becomes eligible, he has the potential to play a significant role for Australia in the 2028 Olympics.
What’s Next?
Irving’s chances of playing for Australia hinge on the approval process and his healing from injury. If granted eligibility, he would join a talented core of Australian players, including Daniels, Josh Giddey, and Patty Mills, as they aim to compete for Olympic gold in Los Angeles. The basketball community will closely watch Irving as he navigates both his rehab and the international eligibility process.
