Irving to play for U.S., Coach K in 2016?

Following the Cavs' 109-100 loss to the Jazz Monday night, Kyrie Irving told several reporters, including the Plain Dealer's Tom Reed, that he will try to the make the United States' Olympic basketball team in 2016.

Irving was born in Australia, and there was speculation that he would play for the Aussies in this year's Olympics. Instead, Irving will sit out this summer's games.

The rookie point guard also added that he'd heard Mike Krzyzewski, Irving's coach at Duke and the Olympic team's current coach, has already committed to coaching the 2016 team. However, the USA's team chairman, Jerry Colangelo, told ESPN.com that who will coach the team in 2016 "hasn't been discussed at all."

According to Irving, hearing that Coach K would be coaching the team was the "deciding factor" to try to represent the United States.

Irving is the frontrunner to win the Rookie of the Year. He's averaging 18.6 points and 5.1 assists per game, and shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 42.4 percent from three.

His scoring average (13.3 in December, 18.9 in January, 19.3 in February, 21.0 in March) has improved each month.