NBA superstar Kyrie Irving could defect to Australia for Los Angeles Olympics after three-time gold medal winner was shunned by Team USA

The Australian Boomers could be packing a genuine NBA weapon when they compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 – and that is not counting Ben Simmons.

As former No.1 draft pick Simmons continues to decline the opportunity to represent his country because of ongoing injury concerns, another former No.1 selection has signalled their interest in making a shock switch to the Australian Boomers.

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has won three gold medals playing for Team USA, at junior level, the Olympics and at the FIBA World Cup. 

But after he was snubbed for the 2024 Paris games, he has his eyes on a dramatic switch to play against USA on home soil.

Irving was born in Melbourne before relocating to the USA at two years old.

While he would be 36 years old by the time the Los Angeles Games commences, the eight-time NBA All-Star is keen to play in the green and gold.

After crashing out of the medal reckoning at the Paris Olympics, the Aussie Boomers would welcome a player of Irving’s experience and ability

‘I would love to entertain playing for Team Australia, man,’ Irving told The Athletic.

‘I don’t think it’s a strong, 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 hard transition to make, but I don’t want to fall into the same, I would say, probably like—I’m trying to be very intentional with my words here. 

‘I don’t want to fall into the trap of being let down or disappointed when I know that there are other opportunities out there for me.’   

It is not the first time that Irving has tried to play for Australia. 

Irving previously won a gold medal with Team USA at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

The Mavericks star admitted in 2023 that he wanted to play for the country of his birth only for Team USA to block the move when he was 17 years old.

‘I consider myself an international player even though I played on Team USA,’ Irving said on a Twitch stream.

‘A lot of my peers laugh at me when I bring it up and some fans may not agree, but I was born in Australia.

‘Team USA 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 a release to play for Australia for the move to become a reality. 

Irving has previously revealed he wanted to play for Australia soon but the move was blocked by Team USA

The electric guard also admitted that he was disappointed not to make the Paris Olympics squad, especially as he was not afforded the same opportunities to make the final squad compared to previous years.  

‘I won’t say it was hurtful not to be able to try out, but it just was weird that we weren’t able to try out and get together as a group, because the USA team is not just 12 guys or 15 guys,’ he said.

‘I was playing on Team USA when I was 17, 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 is a pride thing there, and I have history.

‘There was such a great competitive pool that you can test yourself against because it’s the best in the world. It’s not every day you get a chance to go against [players of that caliber].’