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Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving said he wants to play for Team Australia and hopes to gain eligibility in time to represent the Boomers at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Irving, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, was asked during All-Star Weekend whether he would consider making a switch from Team USA.
“We’re in the process of that right now,” Irving told reporters Sunday. “Just trying to figure out what’s going to be the best route for me to be eligible. There’s a lot of paperwork in between that.”
Irving, 32, represented the United States at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and helped the Americans win the gold medal. But he did not make either of the past two Team USA Olympic rosters, including the gold-medal-winning squad at last year’s Paris Games.
In order to become eligible, Irving would need to gain approval from USA Basketball, FIBA and Basketball Australia.
“Obviously, Team USA still has a decision to make,” Irving said. “But for me, I’m just trying to do what’s best. Honestly, if I can be an Aussie at one point in my career and play for the Australian team, that would be great.”
Irving would be 36 for the Games in 2028, when he could potentially join a Team Australia roster that already features NBA players Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Ben Simmons, Dante Exum and Josh Green.
The Australians won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games but finished sixth overall last summer in Paris after an overtime loss to Serbia in the quarterfinals.
