Ayrton Oneill
Men's 3x3 basketball is a fast-paced variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one basket and in a half-court setup. The game was introduced at the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, and made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The rules of the game are slightly different from traditional basketball, with a 10-minute game time or the first to 21 points, and a 12-second shot clock. The ball used is the same weight as the official size 7 basketball used in FIBA's official men's 5x5 games but is slightly smaller. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the US men's 3x3 basketball team will feature Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game format | 3 players per team, 1 substitute |
| Court setup | Half-court with one basket |
| Ball | Size 6 (720 mm, 28.5 in) diameter, 620 g weight |
| Game duration | 10 minutes or first to 21 points |
| Overtime | First team to score 2 points wins |
| Scoring | Inside the 3-point arc: 1 point |
| Outside the 3-point arc: 2 points | |
| Free throw: 1 point | |
| Fouls | Team fouls 7-10: 2 free throws |
| Team foul 10+: 2 free throws and possession | |
| Competition | Annual FIBA 3x3 World Tour |
| Summer Olympics | |
| Commonwealth Games |
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What You'll Learn
Rules
Men's 3x3 basketball is a fast-paced variation of basketball played on a half-court with three players on each team. The game was popularized in the 1970s and 1980s and has since been featured in various competitions and leagues, including the Olympics. Here is a detailed overview of the rules of this exciting sport:
3x3 basketball is played on a court that is 15 meters (49.2 feet) wide and 11 meters (36.1 feet) long, which is slightly smaller than a traditional basketball court. The court features a single basket and a semicircular arc around the hoop with a 6.75-meter (22.2-foot) radius, dividing the court into two zones. The ball used in 3x3 basketball is also slightly smaller than a regular basketball, measuring 72.4 cm (28.5 inches) in diameter, to facilitate better ball handling and faster gameplay.
Each team in 3x3 basketball consists of four players: three players on the court and one substitute. The substitute can be tagged in during stoppages, allowing active players to rest. The game begins with a coin toss, and the winning team chooses whether to start with the ball or at the beginning of a potential overtime period. Possession switches between the teams after every basket or attempted basket.
Scoring in 3x3 basketball is slightly different from traditional basketball. A field goal from beyond the arc is worth two points, while a field goal from inside the arc is worth one point. Free throws are worth one point each. The first team to score 21 points wins; if neither team reaches 21 points within 10 minutes, the team with the most points wins. If overtime is needed, the first team to score two points in overtime earns the victory.
The shot clock in 3x3 basketball is 12 seconds, half of the shot clock used in traditional basketball. Each team is allowed one 30-second timeout per game, in addition to two TV timeouts called by the officials. Fouls are charged to the team rather than individual players, and each team is allowed six fouls before entering the foul penalty situation. In contrast to traditional basketball, there is no fouling out for individual players, but a player can be disqualified for committing two unsportsmanlike fouls during the game.
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History
3x3 basketball, also stylized as ƐX3 and pronounced as three-ex-three, is a variation of basketball played on a half-court with three players on each team. The game format is promoted and structured by FIBA, the sport's governing body. The history of 3x3 basketball can be traced back to the 1970s and 1980s when basketball experienced a surge in popularity, with star players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan entering the scene. During this time, 3x3 basketball began to be formalized with its own set of rules and featured in competitions.
The first of these competitions, the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, started in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan, and eventually grew into a nationwide event. In the late 1980s, a tournament known as Hoop It Up was created by a Dallas businessman and spread to multiple cities and countries, helping to standardize the sport's rules and elevate its prominence. The 1992 movie "White Men Can't Jump", which featured recreational games resembling 3x3 basketball, also contributed to the sport's growing profile.
In the 2000s, 3x3 basketball continued to gain popularity and recognition. FIBA established a regular World Cup that includes men's and women's categories competing simultaneously in open, U23, and U18 categories. The FIBA 3x3 World Cup is the highest tournament for national 3x3 teams. The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) has also embraced 3x3 basketball, holding a summer series of tournaments known as "Dew NBA 3X" since 2016.
The debut of 3x3 basketball as an Olympic sport occurred at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, for both men and women. Latvia became the first-ever 3x3 basketball Olympic champion in the men's category, while the USA clinched the honours in the women's division. The 3x3 format has continued to be included in major sporting events, such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
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Competitions
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played on a half-court with three players per team. The game focuses on speed, versatility, and agility, and its rules are straightforward, making it fast-paced and exciting. The format has been adopted for the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and several other professional and amateur competitions exist.
The pinnacle of 3x3 basketball competition is the annual FIBA 3x3 World Tour, which includes a series of World Tour Masters events and one Final. Teams can qualify for a World Tour Masters by playing in any of the designated World Tour qualifiers. The FIBA 3x3 World Cups for men and women are the highest tournaments for national 3x3 teams.
The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) has also embraced 3x3 basketball. Since 2016, the NBA has held an annual summer series of tournaments known as "Dew NBA 3X", where local amateur players from around the US compete in regional events for cash prizes and a finals berth. The men's and women's NBA 3X champions then advance to the USA Basketball national 3x3 championship to potentially represent their country internationally.
In 2017, American entertainer Ice Cube founded BIG3, a professional 3x3 league in the United States that features teams of former NBA players and international players. BIG3 uses different rules and a different ball from FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 competitions.
Several amateur competitions also operate annually, including the Gus Macker and Hoop It Up tournaments. The Gus Macker 3on3 Basketball Tournament started in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan, and has since grown into a nationwide event. Hoop It Up was created in the late 1980s by a Dallas businessman and has spread to multiple cities and countries, helping to standardise the sport's rules and elevate its prominence. Spokane Hoopfest is reportedly the largest non-professional 3x3 basketball tournament in the world, with over 6,000 teams participating.
In addition to these established competitions, 3x3 basketball can be played by anyone, anywhere—whether indoors or outdoors. Local community games are often held on the streets, and all that is required is a hoop, a half-court, and six players.
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Teams
Men's 3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and in a half-court setup. The rules are slightly different from the FIBA rulebook, and the ball meets the specifications for the men's full-court game. The game is played on a half court with one basket, and it lasts for 10 minutes or until a team scores 21 points, with no halftime or quarters. A made shot inside the 3-point arc counts as one point, while a made shot outside the 3-point line counts as two points. A made free throw is worth one point, and fouls are called by a referee.
The 3x3 format has been included in several major sporting events, including the Summer Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and the World Cup. The first-ever 3x3 basketball Olympic champion in the men's category was Latvia at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The United States has historically dominated 5-on-5 basketball at the Olympics but failed to qualify a men's team for the Tokyo 2020 Games. However, the US men's team is set to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with high medal expectations. The team includes Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis.
The qualification system for the FIBA 3x3 World Cups for men differs from the system used for FIBA full-court competitions. National team entries are based on a country's official 3x3 ranking, which considers individual player rankings. The ranking system mandates that only the top 20 men's teams can participate in the World Cup.
The pinnacle of the FIBA 3x3 competition network is the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, which includes a series of World Tour Masters and one Final. Teams can qualify for a World Tour Masters by playing in any of the designated World Tour qualifiers. The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) has also embraced 3x3 basketball, holding a summer series of tournaments known as "Dew NBA 3X". The men's and women's NBA 3X champions can advance to the USA Basketball national 3x3 championship and potentially represent their country internationally.
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Players
Men's 3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and in a half-court setup. The rules of the game are slightly different from the FIBA rulebook, and the ball used is also different from the one used in FIBA 3x3 games. The ball is the same weight as the official size 7 basketball used in FIBA's official men's 5x5 games, but it is a little smaller in diameter. This smaller size facilitates better ball handling to suit the faster pace of the game.
Each team in 3x3 basketball consists of three players, as the name suggests, unlike traditional basketball, which has five players on each team. 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.
The playing area is divided into two parts by a semi-circular arc, drawn at a radius of 6.75 meters from the centre of the hoop. The area inside the arc is called the one-point zone, and a shot made from this area is worth one point. The area outside the arc is called the two-point zone, and a shot made from this area is worth two points. A made free throw is also worth one point, and fouls are called by a referee. Team fouls 7 through 10 are penalised with two free throws, and team foul 10 and beyond are penalised with two free throws and possession.
The game starts with a coin toss, and the winning team can choose to take possession of the ball at the start of the game or at the start of a potential overtime period. The game is played for 10 minutes or until a team scores 21 points, with no halftime or quarters. There is a 12-second shot clock. If the game goes into overtime, the first team to score two points wins. Possession switches between teams after every made basket or unsuccessful attempt, and the defensive team can also gain possession through a steal, block, or defensive rebound.
The 3x3 format has been included in several recent international competitions, such as the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. The United States has traditionally dominated 5-on-5 basketball at the Olympics but did not qualify for the men's 3x3 competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The first-ever US Olympic men's 3x3 basketball team, featuring Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis, will compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Frequently asked questions
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and in a half-court setup. The game is played on a half court with a single hoop at one end. The playing area is divided into two parts by a semi-circular arc, with the area inside the arc being called the one-point zone and the area outside the arc being called the two-point zone.
The game is 10 minutes long or is played until a team scores 21 points, with no halftime or quarters. There is a 12-second shot clock and a 2-point scoring system, with shots inside the 3-point arc counting as one point and shots outside the 3-point line counting as two points. Fouls are called by a referee and are penalised with free throws.
The ball used in 3x3 basketball is the same weight (620g) as the official size 7 basketball used in FIBA's official men's 5x5 games, but it is a little smaller (72.39cm in diameter) than the size 7 basketball (74.93cm in diameter).
