Kyrie Irving Reacts to Not Making Team USA Roster for 2024 Paris Olympics

In this story:Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving was not among the 12 NBA players to be named to the Team USA men’s basketball roster on Wednesday for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.

Irving, who won gold with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, reflected on that news after the Mavericks held practice on Thursday.

“I wish my brothers well. I just didn’t fit in well with this team,” Irving said. “The deliberation process was a tough one. But again, I have nothing but respect for those guys at USA [Basketball].

“At this point in my career, I think my focus should be winning a championship.”

Kyrie Irving, who won gold as a member of the 2016 Team USA in Rio, on being left off the ‘24 team after being listed as a finalist. pic.twitter.com/V9T3kOXvzP

— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) April 18, 2024

The men’s basketball roster that will compete in Paris features guards Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton. Curry has played for Team USA in two FIBA World Cups but will be chasing his first Olympic gold medal, as will Edwards and Haliburton.

USA Basketball commemorated each player making the Olympic roster by surprising them with a jersey at team facilities across the NBA. Irving, however, longs for a time when Team USA held tryouts for international events.

“I grew up in a time, too, where we actually had to try out for USA [Basketball]. We did meet up as a group and as peers,” he said. “There was a mutual respect that we earned for one another in trying out and then seeing what five [players] meshed well. I think, obviously, the timing is a bit different. But I miss those days of just being able to get everybody together, break bread and then compete against one another—and then the deliberation process happens at the end of those four or five days. Even though people know who’s going to be on the team.

“I miss that fun part of it of getting together. But I wish my brothers well.”

Training camp for the Olympics will begin July 5 in Las Vegas.