Kyrie Irving Is Upset with Team USA for Not Being Called for the Olympics: "I Would Love to Play for Australia"

Kyrie Irving has played with Team USA in the past, winning championships, but he was not called up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, being one of the few superstars missing from the event. The Dallas Mavericks point guard was born in Melbourne and also holds Australian nationality, despite having American parents. Therefore, the talented player is considering joining the Australian national team in the future.

Not Being Called Up by Team USA

"I wouldn't say it was painful not being able to try, but it was strange that we couldn't try and come together as a group, because the US team is not just 12 or 15 players... I was playing for the US team when I was 17, 18 years old. I won three gold medals. I won when I was 18, when I was 22, and won another when I was 24. So there's a sense of pride there, and I have a history. There was such a competitive group where you could test yourself because it's the best in the world. Not every day you get the opportunity to face players of that caliber."

"I had communication with Grant during the season, but I think it was more or less a surprise that he wanted to play. I think it was simply a surprise that he wanted to play and that he was committed. I speak about this from a healthy perspective, I want to make that clear as well. It wasn't envy. It was like, 'Oh, OK, this means there's an extra motivation, just naturally, so, I guess the plan is 2028?' And maybe it's not with the US team. At the end of the day, I'm really proud of the guys on the US team."

Playing for Australia

"I would love to consider playing for the Australian team, man. I don't think it's a very strong possibility at the moment, depending on what the Olympic Committee does. But as a competitor, I was born in Australia. For me, it wouldn't be a difficult transition to make, but I don't want to fall into the same, I would say, trap of feeling let down or disappointed when I know there are other opportunities out there for me."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kyrie Irving, molesto con Team USA por no ser llamado para los Juegos Olímpicos: "Me encantaría jugar para Australia"