"Swapping teams like KD" - NBA fans abuzz over Kyrie Irving considering Australian team for 2028 Olympics

This summer, Kyrie Irving wasn't selected to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Although he captured gold with Team USA in 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Kyrie Irving still has his sights set on competing in the Olympics once more before his career comes to an end.

During an interview with The Athletic, he explained that he kept an open line of communication with Grant Hill, the managing director of the US Men's National Team. However, this summer, there was no tryout for Team USA, the roster was simply selected and announced.

Following the 2024 Olympics in Paris this past summer, Irving is shifting his focus to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. As he explained, if he doesn't wind up on Team USA for the 2028 Olympics, he would also be open to representing Australia, where he was born.

"I would love to entertain playing for Team Australia, man. ... I don’t think it’s a strong, strong possibility at this point, depending on what the Olympic Committee does. But as a competitor, 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."

The comments caught the attention of fans, who were quick to weigh in with their thoughts:

"They swapping teams like KD now" - One wrote

"Being able to switch countries so easily defeats the entire purpose of playing in the Olympics" - Another added

"What is the point of playing for Aus if you do not play on the USA team? It takes out all the genuity of it. I love Kyrie, but i am sorry, you are not capable of doing everything Bron does." - One suggested

Others kept the jokes coming:

"What happened to the game I love how u changing countries" - One wrote

"I've never understood how a guy born in Australia can think Earth is flat. Does he think Australians are close to falling off the edge of the planet?" - One joked

"Is that even allowed? In soccer once you play for a national team you can't switch to another one" - Another asked

Of course, in order to have a chance to play for Team USA, Irving would have to be released by the US Men's National Team, allowing him to represent another country.

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Kyrie Irving opens up on his experience trying out for Team USA early in his career

Before Kyrie Irving was drafted with the first pick of the 2011 draft, he was a part of the Team USA Select Team that scrimmaged and practiced against the US Men's National Team.

At the time, Kyrie Irving went viral for his remarkable ball-handling abilities, crossing up numerous defenders in one particular clip that left fans in awe.

His participation at the training camp also led to talk of a 1-on-1 against Kobe Bryant for charity.

As Kyrie Irving explained in the aforementioned interview, he's used to competing for a chance to represent Team USA:

"I won’t say it was hurtful not to be able to try out, but it just was weird that we weren’t able to try out and get together as a group because the USA team is not just 12 guys or 15 guys. … I was playing on Team USA when I was 17, 18. I won three gold medals. ...

"There was such a great competitive pool that you can test yourself against. We got seven days to compete. And even if I don’t make the team, I’m fine with that. But I know that I’m going to leave it out on the line, and I know that I’m one of those players who’s able to…"

With the expectation being that LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant will all be retired before the 2028 Olympics in LA, assuming Kyrie Irving is healthy and active, he could join Tyrese Haliburton as the team's point guard duo.