Why Kyrie Irving ‘pupil’ and former gymnast Sienna Harvey ultimately chose basketball

SHENZHEN (China) – Maybe in another timeline, Sienna Harvey would be known as an exceptional gymnast with outstanding rhythmic ball routines.

She tried her hand in gymnastics when she was younger, which could have opened a lot of possibilities for her had she opted to stick.

Perhaps, Gymnastics Australia would come knocking on her door. She may have won some medals here and there, too, all while representing her country.

“I started around the age of 9 to 10 years old, and really enjoyed it,” she said.

As much as she had fun, though, Harvey always knew what her heart wanted. It is instead basketball, the sport that millions and millions have also grown to love.

“However, this was also the time when I started playing basketball,” shared the 18-year-old. “I always loved basketball more and I knew that. Although there was a little hesitation when deciding, I know that I had made the right decision.”

Harvey had indeed made the right decision. She has now been to various parts of the world because of basketball, as part of the Gems program since she was 16.

She’s played in a number of FIBA competitions as well – from the U16 Women’s Asia Cup in Jordan and the U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Hungary both in 2022, to the U17 Women’s Oceania Championship in Papua New Guinea.

Now, she’s with the team in the U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2024 in this Shenzhen, looking to help Australia defend the title they won in 2022.

She and Australia have now booked another trip to the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025, making this ride all the more worthwhile.

“To be given the opportunity to represent my country has been such an honour and privilege. I feel very blessed to have been selected in previous years and again this year,” said Harvey, a scholar of Basketball Australia’s Center of Excellence (CoE).

“With the ongoing support and development Basketball Australia has provided, I have been afforded many amazing experiences and opportunities to learn about the culture of Australian basketball both on and off the court,” she continued.

Harvey has been paying all that trust back by putting in the work. She was key in Australia’s 3-0 sweep of the Group Phase to reach the Semis outright with solid averages of 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

Glimpses of her gymnastics background could actually be seen with the way she plays, moving comfortably with the ball in her hands while running as the point guard. Part of it, perhaps, is from her admiration of global superstar Kyrie Irving.

“Kyrie Irving is my favorite basketball player and someone I’ve watched since I was young and tried to model my game like him. I love his creativity he brings as well as his handles and finishing,” said the 1.74M (5’9″) combo guard.

This whole experience couldn’t get any better for a kid who started playing basketball at age 9 with her big brother at the backyard of their residence in Wodonga.

“In doing so we are all representing our family and friends from back home, and I hope that we are making them proud,” she said.

All of this is happening because she chose what she loves the most.

“Basketball has always made me happy and has brought me so much joy, amazing memories and life-long friends,” said Harvey.

FIBA