CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving was named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year for his play with Team USA in the FIBA World Championships this past summer.
The announcement was made by USA Basketball on Sunday.
Irving, 22, earned tournament MVP after helping lead the United States to the gold medal. Team USA was coached by Mike Krzyzewski, Irving's coach at Duke University.
Irving averaged 12.1 points and 3.6 assists for the Americans.
"It's truly an honor and a blessing to be among such great lineage of award winners," Irving said. "USA basketball was the best experience of my life thus far, just being a part of a team that's bigger than myself."
Former winners of the award include Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant and LeBron James -- Irving's teammate with the Cavaliers.
Cavs (and Team USA) PG Kyrie Irving named USA basketball male athlete of year. (Photo courtesy @OlivierTheVoice.) pic.twitter.com/h0Kpb1k08r
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) December 21, 2014
