Kyrie Irving Says He Wanted To Play For Australia But Coach Mike Krzyzewski Didn’t Let That Happen

Kyrie Irving wanted to represent his birth country of Australia in international play when his head coach at Duke intervened.

3 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

• Kyrie Irving was born in Australia but represented Team USA as an international player

• Irving revealed his head coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, convinced him to not play for Australia 

• Krzyzewski was also the head coach of Team USA at the time 

Kyrie Irving won the 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Gold medal as one of the lead guards on Team USA. It almost never would’ve been possible, as Irving wanted to represent Australia until Team USA and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski intervened. Irving revealed the same on his Twitch recently.  

“I consider myself an international player even though I played on Team USA. A lot of my peers laugh at me when I bring it up and some fans may not agree, but I was born in Australia. Team USA asked me to play for them when I was 17 or 18 … I wanted to play for Australia, but it just didn’t happen. Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) wasn’t going to let that happen either.”

Irving wore the No. 10 for Team USA and averaged 11.8 points and 4.2 assists over 17 games played in the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. He shot 52.4% from the field and an incredible 48.9% from three while playing for Team USA.


How Would Team Australia Look With Kyrie Irving In The 2023 World Cup?

Team Australia is one of the medal hopefuls at the World Cup this year. Patty Mills is still the leader of the team, transforming into an All-Star during FIBA play. But the Australian roster is packed with NBA talent, though nobody is of the level of Kyrie.

His Mavs’ teammates Josh Green and Dante Exum are playing for the Boomers, along with Josh Giddey, Joe Ingles, Matisse Thybulle, and Dyson Daniels being other NBA players on the roster. Jock Landale was also supposed to participate before an injury ruled him out.

Irving would fit perfectly in the backcourt with Giddey or Mills and be their primary offensive weapon. He can be ultra-efficient, so it’s unlikely he hogs the ball. They’re medal contenders right now, but with Irving, Australia may have had the pieces to at least give Team USA a challenge at this year’s World Cup. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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