Kyrie Irving would be strong addition to USA's Olympic squad

Kyrie Irving. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving would be a strong addition to Team USA's Olympic squad

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/18/24

Team USA is expected to take a team full of superstar talent to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. LeBron James is expected to spearhead the group as America looks to bounce back from a difficult FIBA World Cup showing, where it finished in fourth place.

Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum are some of the other star names expected to make the trip to France in the summer.

It would appear that Kyrie Irving's name could be added to that star-studded list. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the veteran ball-handler would be interested in adding to his list of international accolades.

"He was the 2014 World Cup MVP," Charania said. "He was on the 2016 Olympic team that won gold medal. I think that he's going to be a name to continue to monitor for Team USA. A lot of that has been about this season. I don't think that a lot of people expected him to be a name that we were gonna be talking about for Team USA."

"[Kyrie Irving] was the 2014 World Cup MVP, he was on the 2016 Olympic team that won gold medal. I think that he's going to be a name to continue to monitor for Team USA."@ShamsCharania on Kyrie Irving.

: https://t.co/wdT8I0SliI pic.twitter.com/9ZFNn1uDrV
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 18, 2024

Irving would provide Team USA with a genuine X-factor. His playmaking and ball-handling skills are the type you need to break down well-oiled half-court defenses. The European teams will undoubtedly be tough opponents, as will the Canadian national team. The more elite-level talent on Steve Kerr's roster, the better.

Of course, much of the current hype surrounding Irving potentially heading to Paris is based on his performances this season. He's developed a strong partnership with Luka Doncic, finding a way to share the ball with another star with a high usage rate. He's making an impact on the offensive end, even when asked to operate as a floor spacer or off-ball cutter.

In 46 games, Irving is averaging 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range. If he can bring that level of consistent production to the Team USA roster, it's hard to imagine them overlooking him as a potential member of the squad.

Team USA is out to win gold. Irving is the type of veteran talent who can help you achieve that goal. If he's open to making the trip, he'll likely be part of the squad.

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