Ex-Boomers Coach Makes Bold Statement: ‘A Missing Ingredient for the Boomers’ as Kyrie Irving Eyes Team Australia Move

Team Australia stands a strong chance of clinching Olympic gold at the Los Angeles Games in three years if NBA sensation Kyrie Irving switches his allegiance back to his home country.

This sentiment comes from former Boomers coach Brian Goorjian, who expressed his enthusiasm for Irving’s potential transition from Team USA to Team Australia during an interview on SEN radio on Wednesday.

The praise for Irving echoed that of Boomers icon Andrew Gaze, who is also excited by the thought of the talented guard leading Australia to success at the 2028 Olympics.

Irving, who was born in Melbourne, revealed to reporters after this week’s NBA All-Star game with Shaq’s OGs that he has begun to explore the possibility of moving away from Team USA.

“Having Kyrie, a player who can create a play in tight situations or deliver the ball to the right teammate, is a valuable asset that the Boomers currently lack,” Goorjian, who led the Boomers at the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, stated.

“The current talent pool within the Boomers is exceptional. If you integrate someone with his calibre—who commands respect from international players and countries alike—we’re not just talking about being a contender for medals; you’re genuinely in contention for gold.”

Born in Melbourne in 1992 while his father, Drederick, played for the Bulleen Bullets in the South East Australian Basketball League, Irving’s family moved to the USA when he was just two. He was subsequently selected first overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.

By the time the Boomers take to the court in Los Angeles in 2028, Irving will be 36 years old.

Gaze, a former captain of the Boomers and a five-time Olympian, labelled Irving a “superstar of the NBA”, noting that he has maintained this status for many years.

“He might have unconventional views on some matters, but on the basketball court, he’s still performing at an elite level,” Gaze remarked.

Though Gaze acknowledged that Irving is approaching the later stages of his career, he stressed that the guard has been in “exceptional” form for the Dallas Mavericks this season.

“Hopefully, he can sustain that for a few more years and don the green and gold jersey, allowing us, as a nation, to drape a gold medal around our necks,” Gaze added with a chuckle.

As a nine-time NBA All-Star and an NBA champion, Irving secured the title in 2016 while playing alongside LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers, famously hitting a clutch three-pointer in game seven of the finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Irving has also earned selections to three All-NBA teams and represented the USA in the Rio 2016 Olympics, although he hasn’t competed on the Olympic stage since.

“Anytime you bring in talent of his calibre, regardless of the position, it’s a welcome addition,” Gaze stated.

He further described the potential combination of Irving with Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey as electrifying, mentioning that it brings together immense scoring capabilities, exceptional playmaking, and top-notch defence.

“This combination is truly exciting, and we cannot wait to see it come to fruition,” he added.

“We’ve been down this road before and faced disappointment, but with the motivation Irving seems to have at the moment, we’re hopeful that FIBA will facilitate this transition.”

This week, Irving mentioned he is exploring “the best route” for eligibility with the Boomers, stating, “There’s a lot of paperwork involved. Obviously, the USA still has decisions to make; however, I’m focused on determining what’s best for me.”

“Honestly, if I can represent Australia at any stage in my career and wear the national team jersey, it would be fantastic,” he remarked.