NBA superstar Kyrie Irving is reportedly eyeing up a switch to play for Australia at the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Dallas Mavericks guard, 32, won gold with the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Irving, who was born in Melbourne in 1992, had previously been touted to join up with the Australian basketball squad for the 2012 Games in London.
However, the 2016 NBA champion and 9-time All Star opted not to join up with his birth country for the Games, instead carving out his pathway to represent America at the 2016 Games in Rio.
But it appears Irving, who was omitted from the US team’s squad at the 2024 Games, is now looking to qualify for the Australian Olympic side, according to Code Sports.
The outlet states that the Victorian-born superstar is in talks with Basketball Australia over the move with both sides understood to be keen to have him onboard.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is reportedly looking to switch his national allegiances to represent Australia at the 2028 Olympics
Irving won gold with the USA during the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, but was omitted from the squad that travelled to Paris last year
Irving (right) said after Monday’s All Stars game that he had been looking to ‘figure out’ the best route for him to qualify for Australia
Following the NBA All Star’s match on Monday, in which Kyrie Irving scored seven points for Shaq’s OGs, the Dallas star revealed he has been looking at ways he can qualify to play for the Boomers.
‘Man, we’re in the process of that right now, just trying to figure out the best route for me to be eligible,’ he told reporters.
‘There’s a lot of paperwork involved. Obviously, USA still has a decision to make, 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.’
He had opened up on the idea to potentially turn out for Australia at the Los Angeles Olympics during an interview with The Athletic last year.
‘I would love to entertain playing for Team Australia,’ Irving said.
‘I don’t think it’s a strong, strong possibility at this point, depending on what the Olympic Committee does. But as a compeтιтor, 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.’
