http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-15m-nba-lottery/story-e6frey6i-1226077400402
HE has LeBron James on speed dial and the basketball world at his feet. Meet Kyrie Irving, Australia's next international sporting superstar who wants to play for the Boomers at the London 2012 Olympics. Chances are you probably haven't heard of the 19-year-old freshman point guard from Duke University - but you will.
Next Friday, Irving is tipped to be the No. 1 pick taken by Cleveland in the NBA draft - the second Aussie in seven years after Andrew Bogut was selected No. 1 pick by Milwaukee in 2005.It will deliver Irving instant riches with a guaranteed three-year deal worth over $15 million, and possibly new hope for the Boomers' medal chances at London next year.
Irving was born in Victoria, where his father, Drederick, was recruited to Bulleen Boomers in the early '90s by current Boomers head coach Brett Brown. Irving's father and Brown were college teammates at Boston University and have stayed in touch.
His family moved back to New York when Irving was just two years old, but in an interview to screen on ESPN on Monday Irving reveals that he wants to play for his country of birth.
"You know, it would be great to play for my country, which is primarily Australia, so, I was born there and I want to represent Australia," Irving says. "I have dual citizenship with Australia and America.
"I want to be claimed by Australia."
However, if Irving wants to realise his hoop dreams of playing for the Boomers he will need clearance from USA Basketball and FIBA.
Irving is currently ineligible to play for another country after representing the US in international basketball at a junior level last year.
If he wanted to play again on the world stage, though, it would be practical to align himself to Australia. NBA stars Derrick Rose, Irving's hero Chris Paul and Rajan Rondo are just three of the massive roadblocks impeding his path to Team USA selection.
Basketball Australia has been quietly negotiating with USA Basketball in the hope of paving the way for Irving to play for the Boomers.
In Irving's only season at Duke a toe injury forced him to miss 26 games but in his 11 appearances he racked up impressive stats, scoring double figures in all matches he played, including three games of 20 or more.
"I believe 11 games is enough. If I felt like 11 games wasn't enough, I wasn't going to come out and enter my name in the NBA draft.
"I feel that I was prepared for the NBA, and I am ready to reach my full potential and the best way to do that is to test it against the best every single night," Irving said.
