West Orange’s Kyrie Irving Helps Team USA Capture Gold In Rio Olympics

WEST ORANGE, NJ — There was gold waiting for West Orange’s Kyrie Irving and his U.S. Olympic basketball cohorts in Rio de Janeiro.

When Team USA bested Serbia on Sunday to capture its third straight men’s basketball gold medal, 24-year-old Irving – who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers - became just the 4th player in NBA history to win an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, the 2011–12 NBA Rookie of the Year grew up in West Orange and played for Duke University. He also played for the United States national team, with whom he has won gold at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in addition to this year’s Olympics.

• See related article: Kyrie Irving Goes Viral in Pepsi Commercial

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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