Kyrie Irving Accepts Invite to Play in 2016 Rio Olympics
Less than one week after the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a stunning upset of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving has reportedly accepted an invitation from USA Basketball to compete in the Summer Olympics.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein first reported the Game 7 hero had committed to play, and USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt later confirmed the news, adding Irving and Harrison Barnes of the Golden State Warriors were the last two players to accept invites.
Adding Irving to the roster gives head coach Mike Krzyzewski a pair of All-Star point guards. Toronto Raptors floor general Kyle Lowry also recently pledged to play for the Red, White and Blue, per ESPN.com's Ian Begley.
However, he and Irving are the only true point guards on the roster, after Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and John Wall all opted against competing in the international competition.
Irving should hardly be considered a consolation prize, though.
While he's never competed on the Olympic stage, Irving has experience competing with Team USA. The 24-year-old shined at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, taking home MVP honors after Coach K's side captured a gold medal with a 129-92 drubbing of Serbia. Irving scored 26 points and drained all six of his three-pointers in the win.
Since then, Irving has evolved into a true superstar.
Although his first season playing alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love ended in disappointing fashion, Irving asserted himself as one of the league's premier playmakers and clutch shot-makers with a brilliant NBA Finals run this year.
Over the course of the dramatic seven-game series, Uncle Drew erupted for 27.1 points, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three.
Now slated to suit up with Kevin Durant, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins and Carmelo Anthony, among others, with Team USA, Irving should be trusted to shoulder a significant load by his former college coach.
