Following the 2025 NBA All-Star mini-tournament on Sunday, where Irving replaced an injured Anthony Davis as a reserve, Irving revealed his desire to join the Australian national basketball team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
‘We’re in the process of that right now,’ the Dallas Mavericks star guard 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 was born in Melbourne, Australia, while his father Drederick played professional ball for the Bulleen Boomers. He grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and holds dual citizenship in both America and Australia. Irving won gold as a member of Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but he was not included on the roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics or 2024 Paris Olympics. (The U.S. men won gold at both Olympic Games.)
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Although he left the door open for possibly playing for the red, white and blue at the next Olympics — ‘Obviously, Team USA still has a decision to make’ — Irving said it would be ‘great’ to represent Australia.
‘If I can be an Aussie at one point in my career and play for the Australian team, that would be great,’ said Irving, who will be 36 by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Australians finished sixth overall at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a slip from the nation’s bronze medal finish at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Games. Australia’s roster for the 2024 Paris Games included NBA players Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Dyson Daniels.
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