Kyrie Irving wants to play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has expressed his desire to play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics this summer, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Irving, 31, has been one of the perennial stars for USA’s national team in the past. Irving won a gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2014 FIBA World Cup, where he was also named the FIBA World Cup MVP.

The 6-foot-2 guard has the pedigree to be part of USA’s prestigious 12-man lineup come the Olympics and he has some history with Team USA’s expected core in LeBron James and Kevin Durant. 

James and Irving won a title together in Cleveland back in 2016, while Durant shared the 2016 gold with Irving (while being teammates together on the Brooklyn Nets).

The final roster for Team USA is set to be finalized sometime during the NBA playoffs. So far, the shortlist of players who have committed/expressed their intent to play include James, Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker.