"Give the people what they want"- Patrick Beverley bats for Kyrie Irving's Team USA selection as Derrick White gets the nod

Former Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley called on Team USA to include Kyrie Irving in their roster after Kawhi Leonard pulled out. Before the US national team's first exhibition game against Canada, it was reported that Leonard pulled out from the competition, leading to Derrick White becoming the replacement for the two-way forward.

Leonard and the LA Clippers have discussed that it would be best for both parties to have their star healthy this summer. Since joining the Clippers, the two-time champion has struggled to stay healthy.

With the news of Leonard not participating, it was the perfect chance for the program to include Irving on the team. Fans have campaigned for the veteran All-Star to be part of the team even before the official roster was announced. However, that won't be happening since Team USA has already given the spot to White.

Beverley rallied along with the crowd on social media, wanting to see Irving join the team.

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"Give the people what they want Kyrie," Beverley posted on X (formerly Twitter).

It could have been the perfect chance to have Irving on the team. After all, it could be LeBron James' last hurrah with the national team. A reunion and a potential gold medal finish could be the fans' last chance to see the former teammates play together.

The last time Irving represented the USA on the international scene was in the 2016 Rio Olympics. He helped the team win gold, averaging 11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

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Kyrie Irving's new teammate is excited to see him play

This summer, Kyrie Irving got a new teammate. The Dallas Mavericks traded for Klay Thompson, which is a significant improvement for the team after they reached the NBA Finals last season. Although Irving wasn't named to Team USA's roster, he has the entire summer to work together with Thompson in preparation for next season.

During Thompson's introductory press for the Mavs, the four-time champion shared his excitement about playing with Irving.

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"I've always been a fan of Ky's game, and guarding him was hell, so it's nice to be on the other end of that for once. See other defenders get loose and get shook by him; that's gonna be a good sight to see," Thompson said about the 2016 champion.

Both players entered the league in 2011 and have played against each other in the NBA Finals multiple times. Although Thompson has the most wins in their matchup, Irving didn't make it easy on the star guard.

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