What is 3x3 basketball?
3x3 basketball is an exciting, urban and innovative variation of basketball played with three players on each team on a half-court setup with one hoop and backboard. It is widely held to be the world’s number one urban team sport.
By whom, where and when was 3x3 basketball invented?
3x3 basketball was developed as a creative variation of traditional full-court basketball.
The sport has its origins in the urban areas of the United States of America in the late 1980s where the condensed form of basketball was often practiced in backyards and parks before eventually evolving into a cultural phenomenon.
Following its soaring popularity FIBA later developed 3x3 as the second basketball discipline to attract a new audience and provide more opportunities for its member associations and players worldwide. It was structured into a professional sport with official rules sanctioned by FIBA.
What are the rules of 3x3 basketball
The rules of 3x3 basketball are designed to make it fast, spectacular, and exciting.
Played on a half-court, two teams of three players both attack and defence the same hoop depending on which team is in possession. Games can be won in two different ways: by scoring the most points after 10 minutes or if a team reaches 21 points.
The three-point line in 5x5 basketball serves as the two-point in 3x3 basketball, with shots made outside the line earning two points and those inside it, one. A 12-second shot clock adds an additional speed component to the game making 3x3 one of the quickest team competitions in the world.
How long is a 3x3 basketball game?
A 3x3 basketball game is played over a maximum 10-minute period. The first team to score 21 points instantly wins the match. If neither team has scored 21 points after the 10 minutes is up, the team with more points by the end of the 10 minutes is crowned the winner.
3x3 Basketball and the Olympics
In 2007, FIBA decided to propose to the IOC that it add 3x3 to the programme of the Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010, which ended up being the first official 3x3 event. The discipline has featured in Youth Olympic Games (YOG) events ever since. On 9 June 2017, the IOC’s Executive Board announced its decision to include 3x3 as part of the Olympic basketball programme, starting with the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, held in 2021. On 24 July 2021, 3x3 became the first-ever new YOG discipline to be included in the Olympic program. Latvia won the men's gold medal, with the United States claiming the women's title.
Best 3x3 basketball players to watch
From the towering power player Strahinja Stojacic of Serbia to the ever-creative Laetitia Guapo of France, 3x3 basketball is packed with individual players all offering unique skillsets to match the intense demands of the game.
As teams go, few would disagree that when it comes to best the Olympic men's gold medal-winning team of Latvia, made up of Nauris Miezis, Agnis Cavars, Edgars Crumins and Karlis Lasmanis, and the women’s champions USA, including Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Allisha Gray and Stefanie Dolson are the ones to watch.
