Kristian Ferrell
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one substitute, on a half-court with a single hoop. The game is 10 minutes long, and the first team to score 21 points wins. If neither team reaches 21 points, the team with the higher score at the end of the 10 minutes wins. The core idea of the game is the same as regular basketball: the offensive team tries to score points by getting the ball inside the hoop while the defensive team tries to stop them. Teams can earn points by scoring field goals/baskets or through free throws. A field goal can earn one or two points, depending on where it is scored from. 3x3 basketball is currently being promoted and structured by FIBA, the sport's governing body, and was included in the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 3 per team, 1 substitute |
| Court size | 15m x 11m |
| Basket | Single hoop, one-point and two-point zones |
| Game duration | 10 minutes |
| Points to win | 21 points |
| Shot clock | 12 seconds |
| Ball size | 72.39cm diameter, 620g |
| Governing body | FIBA |
| Competitions | FIBA 3x3 World Tour, Dew NBA 3X, Olympics, Commonwealth Games |
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Rules and scoring
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one substitute per team, and a single hoop on a half court. The game is played on an 11m x 15m court, with the playing area divided into two parts by a semi-circular arc, drawn at a radius of 6.75m from the centre of the hoop. The area inside the arc is the one-point zone, and the area outside is the two-point zone.
The core idea of the game is the same as regular basketball: the offensive team tries to score points by getting the ball inside the hoop from above, while the defensive team tries to stop them. Teams can earn points by scoring field goals/baskets or through free throws. A field goal from outside the arc or from the two-point zone is worth two points, while a field goal from inside the arc or from the one-point zone is worth one point.
A 3x3 basketball game is played over a single 10-minute period. The first team to score 21 points wins the match. If neither team reaches 21 points, the team with the higher score at the end of 10 minutes wins. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, overtime comes into effect, with the first team to score 2 points in overtime declared the winner.
Substitutions are permitted during dead-ball situations, and each team is granted one 30-second timeout. Two technical timeouts also take place after three and six minutes of playing time. When a team commits its seventh, eighth, or ninth foul, their opponents receive two free throws. For the tenth and any subsequent fouls, the opponents receive two free throws and possession of the ball.
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Court size
3x3 basketball is played on a half-court setup, with one hoop at one end and an end line at the other. The court measures 15 metres (49 feet) in width and 11 metres (36 feet and 1.07 inches) in length. This is half the size of a full-scale basketball court, which is 28 metres by 15 metres.
The playing area is divided into two parts by a semi-circular arc with a 6.75-metre radius from the centre of the hoop. The area inside the arc is called the one-point zone, and the area outside is the two-point zone. A field goal scored from inside the arc is worth one point, while a field goal scored from outside the arc or from the two-point zone is worth two points.
The smaller court size and variation in scoring zones make for a faster-paced game than traditional 5x5 basketball. The rules and setup of 3x3 basketball are designed to promote the sport and engage younger players, while still retaining the fundamental elements and skills of the traditional game.
The 3x3 format has been used in various tournaments and has been embraced by the NBA, which has held summer series of 3x3 tournaments since 2016. The format made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where the US women's team won the first-ever gold medal in 3x3 basketball.
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Number of players
As the name suggests, 3x3 basketball features three players in each team as opposed to the five in traditional basketball games. Each team must have three players on the court when the game begins. There is only one substitute allowed on the bench in 3x3 basketball, who can enter the game anytime during a dead ball situation by tagging an outgoing player. Substitutions are permitted when the ball becomes dead and the game clock is stopped.
The 3x3 format has been adopted for the 2020 Summer Olympics, 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) has also embraced 3x3, holding a summer series of tournaments known as "Dew NBA 3X" since 2016. The men's and women's NBA 3X champions then advance to the USA Basketball national 3x3 championship to potentially represent their country internationally.
The FIBA 3x3 World Cups for men and women are the highest tournaments for national 3x3 teams. FIBA sees 3x3 as a major vehicle for promoting the game of basketball worldwide. FIBA Secretary General and IOC member Patrick Baumann explained that the 3x3 concept has all the elements and skills required for basketball and is an easy and effective way to introduce youngsters to the game.
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Game duration
3x3 basketball is played over a single 10-minute period. The first team to score 21 points wins the match. If neither team reaches 21 points, the team with the higher score at the end of the 10 minutes wins. If the game ends in a tie, overtime comes into effect, with the team that started the game on defense getting first possession. The first team to score 2 points in overtime wins.
The shorter game duration of 3x3 basketball compared to the traditional 5x5 format is due to the faster pace of the game. The smaller team size and court size facilitate this faster pace. The ball used in 3x3 basketball is also slightly smaller than a regular basketball, improving ball handling to match the quicker gameplay.
The shot clock in 3x3 basketball is 12 seconds, half the time of the 24-second shot clock in regular basketball. This contributes to the faster pace of the game, as the offensive team must attempt a shot within 12 seconds of gaining possession.
The rules of 3x3 basketball are designed to promote the sport worldwide and engage younger players. FIBA, the sport's governing body, has developed a digital community that offers individual world rankings for players at FIBA-endorsed 3x3 events. This digital community acts as a repository for all FIBA-endorsed 3x3 events worldwide.
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Competitions
3x3 basketball has been used in several tournaments, such as the Spokane Hoopfest and the Nike 3ON3 Tournament. The sport's governing body, FIBA, has also been promoting and structuring the 3x3 format. FIBA-endorsed 3x3 events are classified within a competition hierarchy, forming an official competition network.
The FIBA 3x3 World Tour is the pinnacle of this competition network, comprising a series of World Tour Masters and a Final. Teams can qualify for a World Tour Masters by participating in any of the designated World Tour qualifiers. The NBA has also embraced 3x3, holding a summer series of tournaments called "Dew NBA 3X" since 2016. These tournaments feature local amateur players from across the US competing in regional events for cash prizes and a finals berth. The NBA 3X champions then advance to the USA Basketball national 3x3 championship, where they can potentially represent their country internationally.
The FIBA 3x3 World Cups for men and women are the highest tournaments for national 3x3 teams. The 3x3 format was adopted for the 2020 Summer Olympics, where the US women's 3x3 basketball team won the first gold medal ever awarded in Olympic competition. The format was also used in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and will be featured in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In 2017, entertainer Ice Cube and executive Jeff Kwatinetz founded BIG3, a travelling league featuring former NBA and US college basketball stars. This league uses slightly different rules from the FIBA rulebook and a different ball from the FIBA 3x3 ball.
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Frequently asked questions
Each team consists of three players and one substitute, for a total of four players on a team.
A 3x3 basketball game is played on a half court that measures 11 metres in length and 15 metres in breadth, with a single hoop at one end.
A FIBA-sanctioned game of 3x3 basketball is played over a single 10-minute period. If neither team reaches 21 points within that time, the team with the higher score wins.
Teams can score points by scoring field goals or through free throws. A field goal scored from outside the arc is worth two points, while a field goal scored from inside the arc is worth one point.
The shot clock in 3x3 basketball is 12 seconds, half the time of regular basketball, which has a 24-second shot clock.
