source: usab.com
Learn Olympics

Everything About 3×3 Basketball Olympics

3×3 Basketball is customized to the average person nowadays with its urban dimension and its character. In this technological era, everyone is interested in dynamic things and their attention has to be attracted for a split second. Every sort of fun is at the disposal at every moment to people and this tremendously exciting game allows all these criteria to be fulfilled. It can catch the focus of people fast and it’s hard to redirect sight from players fighting for the place above the rim and constant shooting and fast actions all over the court. Participation in Olympics can contribute to further recognition of all ages. Its global importance and popularity can remove young generations from the world of crime and drugs. People were impressed by the fun and entertainment of that tournament and the word started spreading. In Paris, it is massively played on the streets, and the upcoming Olympics in 2024 in the French capital will only enhance the growth of this sport on the global stage.

Is 3×3 basketball an Olympic sport?

Yes, it’s an Olympic sport. It got that status officially from the IOC’s Executive Board.

When 3×3 became an Olympic sport?

It was announced in 2017 that 3×3 basketball was officially included in the program of the Summer Olympics and that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be the first Olympics with this sport. This beautiful game became an Olympic sport 7 years after it was included in the program of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Why did they add 3×3 basketball on Olympics?

It was evident and inevitable that this game will catch the eye of Olympic spectators because of its fast-paced tempo. The format of the game is very interesting to the audience because it allows creativity and its easy understanding version of classic basketball five-on-five.

Will 3×3 basketball be in the Olympics?

International Olympic Committee recognizes its popularity among spectators and evident increase of registered players during those years. There was nothing left to do but to add this thrilling sport to the schedule of activities in the Olympic Games.

Why is 3×3 basketball in the Olympics?

Outdoor play and openness to the large crowd who stands right near the court are additionally improving the feeling of the spirit of competition. Unpredictability and team spirit of basketball 3×3 are characteristics that perfectly are suitable for the Olympic dimension of the tournament.

Does the USA have a 3×3 basketball team?

Usa has a man and woman basketball 3×3 team and they are successful in the competition they participate in. They both earned spots in qualification tournaments for the Olympic games in 2020.

Why is America not competing in 3×3 on Olympics?

Man squad was stunned by the Netherlands in the qualifying tournament and eliminated in an attempt to reach the first-ever competition in Olympics in this game. 21-16 loss devastated USA guys and we were witnessing real shock in the world of basketball 3×3. Quarterfinal upset against Dutch side disabled Americans to get one of the three available tickets for Tokyo. It was the first time that the USA man or woman side failed to take part in the Olympics (the exception was a boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980).

How do you qualify for the 3×3 Olympics?

As Fiba.basketball says, teams they can qualify in three different ways.

  • First is where four highest placed countries per gender in the Fiba 3×3 Federations ranking. A maximum of two teams per gender from the same continent can participate in the final tournament.
  • The second way is through the Olympic qualification tournament organized by Fiba. Twenty teams per gender take place in those qualifications and only three teams per each category will get the card to the Olympics. The highest number of teams per gender from the same continent who can take place in this qualification competition is 10.
  • The third way is an additional tournament in which six teams per gender take part in qualification, as well as the fourth and fifth-placed teams from the ranking list that did not qualify for the Olympic Games until then and did not have a representative in basketball at the previous two editions of the Olympic Games (both in the women’s and men’s categories). Only the winner goes to the Olympics.

3×3 basketball Olympics rules

Teams have 3 players in the Olympic games and one substitute who is waiting on the bench. The sport is played on a court that is half of a classic basketball court. The rules suit the fast-paced and dynamic basketball.

The first team who gets to score 21 points or whoever leads after 10 minutes of play win the game. If there is a draw after 10 minutes, the first team to score 2 points or reach 21 points becomes the winner. Possession of the ball changes after every point. There is a time limit of 12 seconds for every shot and this is ensuring agile play. The ball is smaller than the ball in the regular basketball on two hoops but the weight of the ball is the same

There are eight teams in the final Olympic tournament per gender. Every team plays against each one and the two highest-placed teams in the standings after seven rounds are already qualified for the semifinal. Teams ranked from 2nd till 6th play quarterfinal. With quarterfinals starts always exciting elimination round.

Can you dunk in Olympic basketball?

You can dunk in 3×3 basketball as this is a regular way of scoring. This gives the dimension of attractiveness to street basketball. In the beginning, it is worth 1 point like any other basket made from inside the arc. It was worth the same number of points as layups, jumpers, etc. Fiba increased the number of points for a dunk in 2013 and observed how it will impact the style of play. Dunk brought the same number of points as shooting from behind the arc. As the time passed, teams were still shooting a lot behind the arc. After watching carefully how things went, FIBA decided to bring back the old rule and the point value for a dunk was again one.

Is Olympic 3×3 basketball smaller than NBA?

The FIBA balls are the same size as an NBA ball, but many people would say with certainty it looks smaller and lighter. These balls are smaller than in European basketball, so that may be the reason why European spectators notice the smaller ball. The ball is the size of a size 6 basketball and that ball is used regularly in woman’s basketball. The circumference of a size 6 basketball is 28.5 in/ 72cm in diameter,  but it weighs like size 7 basketball which is 29.5 in/74.93cm in diameter. The standard weight for 6 size is 22oz / 620g. The smaller dimensions of the ball give the option to players of better handling in fast rhythm games. It is suited for high pace games which are typical in this sport.

Who won 3-on-3 basketball in Olympics

Latvia won Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 after winning the final game against ROC by 21-18. This former Soviet republic became the first laureate at Olympics in this beautiful game. Serbia, the main favorite at Olympics in Japan, won the game for third place against potentially dangerous Belgium. Karlis Lasmanis brought his country a gold medal after landing a two points shot. The celebration among all Latvians could start. Karlis said after the game that everyone felt proud of that huge success, Olympics.com reports. Latvia was trailing at the beginning of the game. They made a comeback and finished the game in a great manner. They deserved the trophy and glory for the next four years before the next Olympics in Paris 2024. Serbia couldn’t justify the role of favorite on the court as they hadn’t been able to handle the pressure of the deciding game. Its’ worth mentioning that the best scorer of the tournament was Lasmanis.

About the author

Marjan Nikolic

Passionate sports guy, coming from the eastern Europe where best basketball is played (yeah, I know you will not agree!). Dynamic 3x3 basket has special place in my heart.

Add Comment

Click here to post a comment