LAS VEGAS– Kyrie Irving never got a chance to get the full Mike Krzyzewski experience at Duke. Team USA’s starting point guard played just 11 games for Coach K in college, missing the bulk of the season with an injured right toe. He declared for the 2011 NBA draft before the Blue Devils were eliminated in the NCAA Sweet 16. .

Injuries or not, the Cleveland Cavaliers made Irving the first pick overall and the three-time All Star has emerged as one of two game changers along with Kevin Durant on the U.S. senior men’s basketball team that will defend its gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 6-3, Irving is young Isaiah Thomas.

He outplayed Stephen Curry and could have easily been the MVP was the NBA championship series against Golden State, was the final perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle for this team. Team USA has to scramble for an elite point guard after Stephen Curry of Golden State, Chris Paul of the Clippers, Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City and Damion Lillard of Portland all took a pass. Irving kept us all in suspense when he waited until the Thursday before the team was announced in New York City at the end of June to officially commit.

“It was late,” he admitted here this week at Team USA’s mini-camp. “But I knew a while ago I was going to play– win or lose. It’s about the genuine relationship I have with Coach K and the team, and the opportunity have play on an NBA championship and a gold medal team. It’s the ultimate dream play for your country.”

Irving is only 24-years old, the second youngest player on the team, born two months before forward Harrison Barnes of Houston. But he is already one of the leaders of a team that will start its five game exhibition game Friday night against Argentina at the T-Mobile Arena off the Strip.

Irving had gone through a long calendar year that started with a six month rehab after knee surgery and his longest NBA season, which finally ended after the seventh game of the finals in mid-June. “Part of me would have wanted to probably think about rest and think about what’s going on, but I can rest in training camp or getting ready for the season,” Irving said at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas in preparation for next month’s Rio Olympics.

“I know the team will understand and I’ll be at my best no matter what. I mean, this is his (Krzyzewski’s) last hurrah, so it’s an emotional thing and this will be our cemented championship if we come home with a gold. We got one in the world championship [in 2014], and now I want to win a gold with him, and I’m the one that got away from him. So, I’m glad that we can do this.”

Irving has always viewed Krzyzewski as a mentor. The two have been close ever since Coach K started cooking with Irving’s step mother on his home visit when Irving was a senior at St. Patrick’s of Elizabeth, N.J. “In high school, I thought he would be great,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s better. And the thing about him is, he’s still getting better. And he’s smart. He’s smart people-wise and he’s smart game-wise. But he’s smart game-wise but not when the game stops. A lot of people are smart after the game stops; he’s smart while the game is going on at a high level. And the really good ones are like that. And that’s what I’ve learned. LeBron [James] is like that. Kobe [Bryant] is like that. Chris Paul, Carmelo [Anthony] is like that. Steph is like that.”

Irving found out quickly this week during practice Krzyzewski can be all business.The 69-year old Krzyzewski felt Irving wasn’t taking practice seriously one day this week, so he calmly said, “F– k you” twice to Irving for interpreting his explanation of an in bounds play. The exchange was recorded — and later edited– by NBA TV, which was filming the team’s entire practice Tuesday .

It has been an interesting week for Irving, who had another moment to remember when he was spotted wearing a bracelet that says,
“Don’t Be a Little B—-,” which is a useful reminder when you’re going against the greatest basketball players in the world, or at least the ones who aren’t resting injuries or fearful of the Zika virus. The other side apparently says, “Champions Dominate” — also appropriate.

Irving became interested in playing for the Olympic team in 2008. “My era was the Redemption team,” he said. “I think I gained a lot from watching Kobe Bryant play on that team and then bringing that culture back to USA Basketball.”
Irving had the luxury of playing with the LeBron James the past two seasons, but he has patterned his mental approach and technical skills after Bryant.

“If you’re talking about who literally just physically imposes himself on the game every single day, and that mindset, oh I definitely going to talk Kobe,” he said. “I never got a chance to play with Kobe. I always watched from the outside like everyone else did– and I’ve been watching Kobe for however long. I mean, me and my dad used to watch Lakers games and I was just specifically watching his footwork. I’m just studying that dude, constantly.”

Irving is honoring Bryant by wearing his No. 10 uniform jersey in Rio.

Irving has been involved in Team USA ever since he was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2012. After the season, he was in contention for a spot on the Australian national team in the 2012 Olympics. But he decided not to represent his nation of birth, focusing instead of selection to the US National team.

Irving was a member of a U.S. national team that competed in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. He helped lead Team USA to the gold medal and was subsequently named tournament MVP. He started all nine games in the tournament, averaging 12.1 points and 3.6 assists including 26 points in the 129-92 gold-medal blowout of Serbia. Irving was then named the 2014 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

Irving and Krzyzewski have now been together at Duke, the World Cup and now the Olympics. “‘

“I think a player has a dog’s life in their career … 13, 15 [years],” Krzyzewski said. “Hopefully that long. So when you feel that momentum going where you’re getting better, I’m not sure you want to stop.I know he wants to play for the U.S., wants to win a gold medal. I think down the list, he wants to play for me. I’m not saying way down the list. But the primary thing, Kyrie wants to be a great player, and this gives him an opportunity to play with different people. It brings out different qualities of him … leadership. And our guys usually become better in this. They usually have really good years [coming off USA Basketball], and then he can rest after. He’ll still have about six weeks before the season. So, I’m proud of him.”