Latvia's 3x3 basketball team ready to show what they're made of at Tokyo 2020

Latvia's 3x3 men's basketball team came out of nowhere.

They were the ragtag bunch, who until a few years ago, weren't in demand in Latvia's national league.

Nauris Miezis was part of the national team for the U18 European Championships but was never invited to try out for the national team again.

Edgars Krūmiņš had suffered an injury at his club.

Kārlis Lasmanis thought his career was almost over and was working at the Port of Ventspils.

And Agnis Čavars, despite winning titles in Germany, Sweden and Latvia in the 5x5 game, had written himself off and was more comfortable with his day job as an IT specialist.

However, at the 2017 3x3 Basketball European Championships in the Netherlands, Latvia took their fellow competitors by surprise when they beat both World Cup winners Serbia and reigning European Champions Slovenia to win gold.

It was something they never could have imagined happening considering the struggles they had just to make it to the event.

Now just four years on with a silver medal from both the 2019 World Championships and 2018 European Championship, they find themselves heading to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 where the team will make its debut in the men's 3x3 basketball tournament.

"It's incredible, a dream come true," Miezis said after Latvia beat France 21-15 to finish third at the Qualification Tournament in Austria to secure their ticket to the Olympic Games. "Thanks to everyone - my teammates, coach, physiotherapist, they did a great job. We are going to the Tokyo Olympics!"

The story of Latvia's 3x3 men's basketball team tells the tale of not letting the flame die within you and that anything is possible in the face of adversity.

The right chemistry

One of the team's best attributes is the chemistry of the players.

Miezis, Krūmiņš, Lasmanis and Čavars not only represent Latvia at international level but also on the 3x3 World Tour with Team Riga.

Since the start on the World Tour in 2017, the team has been a dominant force on the court. They managed a fourth-place finish at the World Tour Final before going on the following year to win silver with a bronze in 2019 and then topping it off with a gold in 2020.

Continuously being on tour together has obviously brought them closer together.

"I think our best asset is out team chemistry. It's what drives us. We've become such close friends over these past two years," Cavars said during the 'From Ghetto to the Olympics' documentary in 2019. "No questions asked, we will help each other. We've grown tight and I consider that a key element to take us to the next level."

Each player is also highly skilled, with all four members within the top 10 individual world rankings, with Miezis currently being world no.1.

Miezis, nicknamed 'Robin', is known for his chemistry with teammate Lasmanis, nicknamed 'Batman', while Krūmiņš, the heart and soul of the team, and Cavars are there to make things easier up on the court.

"I've studied how Miezis plays and I think he might be one of the best 3x3 basketball players in the world," Latvia's national men's basketball captain Janis Blums said in the same documentary describing each player's ability.

"Cavars is sort of a dark horse giving the team an energy boost during the match.

"Lasmasnis is a southpaw (left-handed player) and that makes him a non-traditional basketball player. It's hard to play in defense against him and he can score some serious shots. He is not afraid to go after the ball at any cost.

"Krumins can surely score. No doubt about that," he added.

With each player essentially being a master at their position, when they come together they are able to complement each other and bring the best out of each other on the court. They each know what they need to do for the team to rise to the occasion, knowing each other strengths and weaknesses The quartet are a force to be reckoned with.

"They have the right chemistry. It's a pleasure to watch them play," Blums said.

"They have plenty of discipline. They show true emotions on the court. That is very important to have in basketball. They truly want to win."

Čavars to carry the flag at Opening Ceremony

At 33, Čavars has almost done it all and now has one of the greatest honours an Olympian can have bestowed on them: being named flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony.

"It is a great honour to be among the athletes who bring more people and fans to Latvia. We are a shining example that with hard work, family support, friendship and stubborn determination you can achieve anything," Čavars said at a special ceremony for the official announcement.

The adopted captain of Riga on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour was actually given the honour after Latvia qualified for the Olympic Games but had to keep it a secret from his teammates.

Čavars recalled the moment in an interview with FIBA.com.

“We went to the bus and I think Nauris (Miezis) first read that I am going to be carrying the flag and everyone ran to me to jump around and said congrats and everyone was excited," he said. "So yeah, it felt like a moment between family members.”

Tokyo 2020 is there for the taking

Before arriving in Japan, the world no.4 side had a training camp in Spain, where they are working in high altitude environments and acclimatising, training in the early morning to be at peak fitness for Tokyo 2020.

The 3x3 basketball format at Tokyo 2020 will differ from competitions such as FIBA 3x3 World Cup. There will be just one pool of eight teams playing a round-robin format, with the top two securing a path to the semi-finals while the third to sixth place will go into the quarter-finals.

While Latvia are among the favourites for a medal at this year's Olympic Games, the players are keeping things in perspective.

"To be honest, we know that we are a powerful force in 3x3 basketball. We are counted on by many, but we don't go in and open the door with the idea that we are guaranteed medals," Čavars told the Out the Frame podcast.

"As always, we are the ones who give it a shot. If it works, it will be great, but if it doesn't, I know that all the guys will be able to put their hand on their heart and say: 'We've done our best'."

When they came together four years ago, nobody would have expected the team to reach the heights that many 3x3 basketball teams and players only dream about. Now Latvia are on the biggest sporting stage of them all: the Olympic Games.

And they have the skills and traits it takes to be in the mix. Not only are they strong contenders for the podium but they may even go all the way for a gold medal.

So when they step out on the court at Aomi Urban Sports Park this weekend, it will be a testament to their hard work and dedication to make their dreams a reality.

Latvia will make their Olympics debut in the 3x3 basketball men's tournament when they come up against Poland and Belgium on 24 July.