Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving narrowly missed the cut for Team USA’s roster this year. And while he’s unlikely to lose much sleep over his snub, he does detest the fact that he was never allowed to try out.
“I wish my brothers well. I just didn’t fit into this team,” Irving said via Brad Townsend. “I think the deliberation process was a tough one. But again, I have nothing but respect for those guys of USAB. At this point in my career, I think my focus should be on winning the championship, and in summertime just go and support those guys when I get a chance… I kind of miss those days of just being able to get everybody together, break bread, and then compete against one another.
Team USA’s new selection process is still alien for Irving, who was coming up when Olympic athletes had to try out for their spots. Kyrie, who has completed with Olympic legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony, says he wishes the tryouts were still a thing.
“I grew up in a time when we had to try out for USAB. And we did meet up as a group and as peers and there was a mutual respect that we earned from one another in trying out and seeing what five meshed well,” said Irving. “I think the timing’s a little bit different. The deliberation process happens at the end of the four or five-day process even though people know who’s going to be on the team. I missed that fun part of it of just getting together, but I just wish my brothers well.”
Irving is a 3x gold medalist and a veteran of Team USA for the Olympics, FIBA, and the Americas U18 Championship. After a brief hiatus from tournament play, Irving threw his name into consideration for the World Cup in Paris this summer and he had dreams of leading the USA on a major redemption arc.
In prior years, he’d have the opportunity to play and compete to try and earn his spot, but Irving will have no such opportunity this season. Since 2023, players have no longer had to try out for the roster and the team has been built entirely on the decisions and preferences of President Jim Tooley and head coach Steve Kerr. For whatever reason, Irving did not get an invite despite averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game on 49% shooting for the Mavericks this season.
Team USA Is Back With A Vengeance
Even without the addition of Kyrie, USA Basketball is in pretty good shape for the tournament this summer. As of the time of writing, the fill roster includes LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, and Bam Adebayo.”
In a backcourt with Steph, Jrue, Booker, and Edwards, it's possible that USAB thought Irving was a bad fit for the team. After all, with LeBron James expected to run most of the ball-handling duties, the offense is going to run through him anyway.
But regardless of their confidence in the final roster, Team USA cannot afford another disappointing showing. After finishing fourth in last year’s World Cup, America’s best and brightest superstars have agreed to join forces and everyone is expecting a dominant showing. Anything less than that will be further proof that USA Basketball has fallen on hard times and that the talent gap that they once held over the rest of the world is no longer in play.
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