‘We’re in the Process’: Kyrie Irving Wants to Play for Australian Boomers at LA Olympics

15 Australians are playing in the NBA this season, but none are better than Melbourne-born Kyrie Irving. His father Drederick played for the Bulleen Bullets in the South East Australian Basketball League (averaged 30 ppg) after unsuccessful tryouts for the Boston Celtics. Now, his NBA All-Star and NBA Champion son is carrying the torch and dominating the association. Excitingly for fans Downunder, Kyrie Irving has revealed that he officially has his sights on the Boomers 2028 Los Angeles Olympics campaign.

“Man, we’re in the process of that right now,” he said when discussing the topic during an interview at 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.

“Just trying to figure out what’s going to be the best route for me to be eligible. You know, there’s a lot of paperwork in between that. Obviously, Team USA still has a decision to make, but I’m just trying to do what’s best for me. Honestly, if I can be an Aussie at one point in my career, and play for the Australian team, that would be great,” he continued.

While it sounds like plenty of red tape would make this process difficult, Kyrie only needs approval from Team USA, Basketball Australia, and FIBA to make this switch happen.

Australians have gone through this before on numerous occasions with Ben Simmons, and whether he wants it to happen is another question entirely. If Team USA were to put together a “LeDream Team” of retiring stars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and James Harden for Los Angeles 2028 there’s a chance that Kyrie sticks around for one final run. Still, he was left off the Team USA team for Paris 2024 so his chances of making the roster are certainly smaller than they were when he last played for Team USA at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and went home with a Gold medal.

Kyrie will be 36 years old by the time Los Angeles 2028 rolls around and with several up-and-coming Australian basketballers reaching their prime by then – namely Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Josh Green, and Johnny Furphy – the veteran leadership from Irving would be welcomed on a team that will be without Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, and Matthew Delavedova.

Even without Kyrie, the Boomers will still be rolling out a strong outcome with the hope of achieving a medal.

Here’s what that starting line-up for the Boomers 2028 Olympics team might look like:

• PG: Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls)
  • Primary playmaker and offensive engine.
  • Could be one of the best international guards in the world.
• SG: Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks)
  • Elite perimeter defender, transition scorer, and improved shooter.
  • Perfect fit for the Boomers’ system.
• SF: Luke Travers (Cleveland Cavaliers/NBL)
  • Switchable defender, athletic finisher, and secondary playmaker.
  • Showing out for the Cavs G League affiliate this season.
  • If his shooting improves, he’ll be an elite wing.
• PF: Ben Simmons (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • Defensive anchor, secondary playmaker, and transition weapon.
  • If he stays healthy and engaged, he’s still got plenty of game left.
• Could pull out of the team at any second.
• C: Jock Landale (Houston Rockets)
  • Solid stretch big and interior defender.
  • Multiple Olympics experience.

The bench for the Boomers is less certain (outside of Daniels and Furphy), but we’ll have the following players available:

• 6th Man: Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)
  • High-IQ defender, playmaker, and energy boost off the bench.
  • Could close games based on matchups.
• Backup PG: Johnny Furphy (Indiana Pacers) – 25 y/o
  • 6’8″ guard with elite shooting and scoring ability.
• Backup SG: Tyrese Proctor
  • Smooth shooter and secondary ball-handler.
  • Can play alongside Furphy in a dynamic backcourt.
• Backup C: Rocco Zikarsky
  • At 7’3”, he has the potential to be a dominant rim protector and post presence.

If Kyrie Irving joins the Boomers at the 2028 Olympics he could play alongside his old Nets teammate Ben Simmons who has previously stated that he wants to finally don the Boomers kit on the biggest stage after missing out in the past due to injury. “I was ready to go, I would’ve played 100 per cent. I can’t predict injuries, I can’t predict surgeries. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to,” he told The Australian.

“Ultimately it’s my dream. It’s something I speak about to my friends back home all the time. I want to put on that green and gold and represent.”

Having recently been bought out of his five-year US $177 deal and now signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on a prorated veteran minimum deal worth $1.1 million (AUD$1.7m), Simmons would have his work cut out to make the roster.