Kristian Ferrell
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and a half-court setup. The 3x3 format was introduced at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, for both men and women. The game is played on a half court (11m x 15m) with a single basket, unlike the 5-on-5 game, which is played on a full court with two baskets. The 3x3 ball is the same weight as the one used in 5-on-5 international competitions but has a slightly smaller diameter. The rules of the game are similar to those of traditional basketball, with each team trying to score points by shooting the ball through the hoop. The first team to score 21 points wins, and if neither team reaches 21 points within the time limit, the team with the most points wins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction in Olympics | 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan |
| Teams | 8 teams in each of the men's and women's tournaments |
| Players | 3 players in each team |
| Substitute | Only 1 substitute allowed on the bench |
| Court | 11m in length and 15m in breadth |
| Basket | Single basket at one end |
| Zones | Divided into two zones by a semi-circular arc with a 6.75m radius |
| Points | Two-point zone and one-point zone |
| Shot clock | 12 seconds |
| Game duration | 10 minutes |
| Winning score | First team to score 21 points or the team with the highest points at the end of 10 minutes |
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Rules and scoring
3x3 basketball is a variation of traditional basketball, with some key differences. The game is played three-a-side, with one backboard and a half-court setup. The court measures 15 metres wide and 11 metres long, with a single hoop at one end and an end line at the other. The area inside the semi-circular arc, drawn at a radius of 6.75 metres from the hoop's centre, is the one-point zone, and the area outside is the two-point zone. The game uses a slightly smaller ball than traditional basketball, allowing for better handling and complementing the faster pace of the game.
A FIBA-sanctioned game is played over a single 10-minute period. The first team to score 21 points wins. If neither team reaches 21 points within the 10 minutes, the team with the higher score wins. If the game 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.
Teams can score points by shooting field goals 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 the one-point zone is worth one point. Free throws are worth one point each.
Fouls work similarly to traditional basketball. If a player is fouled while shooting, they are awarded one or two free throws, depending on whether they were outside or inside the two-point arc, respectively. If they make the shot, the field goal counts, and they receive one free throw attempt. Fouls are charged to the team, and each team is allowed six fouls before entering the foul penalty situation. From the 7th team foul onwards, the opposing team receives two free throws, and from the 10th team foul onwards, the opposing team also gains possession of the ball. There is no fouling out for individual players, but a player can be disqualified for committing two unsportsmanlike fouls.
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Court size
3x3 basketball is played on a half-court with a single hoop at one end and an end line on the other. The court measures 11 metres (36.1 feet) in length and 15 metres (49.2 feet) in width, which is slightly smaller than half of a traditional basketball court. The court features a semicircular arc around the hoop with a 6.75-metre (22.2-foot) radius that divides the court into two zones. Inside the arc is a rectangular area (5.8mx4.9m) called the key, and its outer edge parallel to the baseline is the free-throw line.
The 3x3 basketball format originated in the late 1980s as an informal "streetball" tradition in the United States, played on half-courts in urban and semi-urban areas. It began to be formalized in the 1970s and 1980s, with its own set of rules and competitions, such as the Gus Macker 3x3 Basketball Tournament, which started in 1974. In 2007, FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) officially organized a 3x3 tournament, and the sport made its global competitive debut at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. It was later included in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics programme for both men and women.
The smaller court size of 3x3 basketball results in a faster-paced and more frantic game compared to traditional 5x5 basketball. The game emphasizes speed, agility, and versatility rather than endurance and methodical tactics. The rules also differ in terms of substitutions, with players tagging in during a dead ball instead of going to the scorers' table.
The first team to score 21 points wins the game in 3x3 basketball. If neither team reaches 21 points within the allotted time, the team with the most points is declared the winner. If the game is tied, there is an overtime period, and the first team to score two points wins. The shot clock in 3x3 is also shorter, with only 12 seconds compared to the 24 seconds in traditional basketball.
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History
3x3 basketball, a fast-paced variation of basketball played with three players on each team, was introduced at the Summer Olympic Games as an official Olympic sport in 2020. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, however, were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked the first time the basketball program was expanded to include 3x3 basketball, which made its debut for both men and women.
The 3x3 basketball format has long been played informally in streets, backyards, parks, and gyms across the world, especially in the United States. In the late 2000s, 3x3 game rules started to become standardized in the US through tournament series like Gus Macker and Hoop It Up, which held large events across the country for players of all skill levels. The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) also embraced 3x3, holding a summer series of tournaments called "Dew NBA 3X" since 2016.
In 2007, FIBA, the sport's governing body, proposed to the IOC that 3x3 be added to the programme of the Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010, which ended up being the first official 3x3 event. FIBA later developed 3x3 as a second basketball discipline to attract a new audience and provide more opportunities for its member associations and players worldwide. The rules of 3x3 basketball are designed to make the game fast, spectacular, and exciting, with a unique format that sets it apart from traditional 5x5 basketball.
On June 9, 2017, the executive board of the International Olympic Committee announced that 3x3 basketball would become an official Olympic sport at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The debut of 3x3 basketball at the Tokyo Olympics was highly anticipated, with the US women's team qualifying despite challenges due to the country's ranking system and COVID-19-related disruptions. The US women's team went on to win gold, giving Team USA its first and only Olympic medal in 3x3 basketball as of 2024. Meanwhile, the men's US team did not qualify for the Olympic tournament, despite being the reigning world champions. The Latvian team overcame a lacklustre record during pool play to beat the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) in the final, winning gold in the men's 3x3 basketball event.
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Teams and players
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and in a half-court setup. The 3x3 format was introduced at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, for both men and women. It will return at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The men's and women's 3x3 tournaments at the Olympics include eight teams each. The teams play each other in a round-robin format during pool play, with each team playing seven games in total. After pool play, the teams are ranked based on their records. The top two teams advance to the semi-finals, while the bottom two are eliminated. The remaining four teams compete in a play-in round.
The 3x3 format allows for one substitute on the bench, who can enter the game during a dead-ball situation. This is a key difference from traditional basketball, which typically allows for more substitutions.
While the specific teams and players can vary depending on the tournament and year, the 3x3 format has gained popularity among basketball players and organizations worldwide. The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) has embraced 3x3, holding tournaments like "Dew NBA 3X" since 2016. These tournaments feature local amateur players and provide a pathway for champions to advance to the USA Basketball national 3x3 championship, representing their country internationally.
Additionally, the BIG3 league, founded by entertainer Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017, features retired NBA and US college basketball stars competing under slightly different rules and using a different ball. This league has contributed to the growth and visibility of 3x3 basketball, attracting fans and media attention.
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Competitions and tournaments
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played on a half-court with three players per team. The game emphasises speed, versatility, and agility, with a faster pace than traditional 5x5 basketball. The primary competition in 3x3 basketball is the annual FIBA 3x3 World Tour, which includes a series of Masters tournaments and a Final tournament, with six-figure prize money. FIBA also organises the FIBA 3x3 World Cup for men and women, which are the highest tournaments for national 3x3 teams.
FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball games have slightly different rules from traditional basketball. Games are played over a single 10-minute period, 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 10 minutes wins. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, overtime comes into effect, with the first team to score 2 points winning the game. Teams can score points by shooting field goals or through free throws. A field goal from outside the arc or the two-point zone is worth two points, while a field goal from inside the arc or the one-point zone is worth one point. Free throws are taken from beyond the free throw line and are worth one point.
The North American National Basketball Association (NBA) has embraced 3x3 basketball, holding the "Dew NBA 3X" summer tournament series since 2016. This tournament features local amateur players competing in regional events for cash prizes and the chance to advance to the USA Basketball national 3x3 championship. The NBA tournaments also include live music performances, 3-point shooting contests, and appearances from current NBA players.
In addition to the FIBA and NBA tournaments, there are several other professional and amateur 3x3 basketball leagues and tournaments worldwide. The BIG3 league, founded by entertainer Ice Cube in 2017, features teams of retired NBA and international players competing under slightly different rules and with a different ball from the FIBA-sanctioned 3x3. The Gus Macker and Hoop It Up tournament series are also popular in the United States, with a long history of holding large 3x3 basketball events.
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Frequently asked questions
3x3 basketball is a variation of basketball played three-a-side with one backboard and a single basket in a half-court setup.
3x3 basketball was introduced at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, for both men and women.
The 3x3 basketball game is played on a half court (11 meters x 15 meters) with a single basket, whereas 5-on-5 basketball is played on a full court (28 meters x 15 meters) with two baskets. The 3x3 ball is also slightly smaller in diameter (72.39 cm) compared to the 5-on-5 ball (74.93 cm), but they weigh the same at 620 grams.
The 3x3 basketball tournament in the Olympics follows a similar format to the 5-on-5 tournament. Both the men's and women's competitions have a group phase followed by a knockout stage. There are a total of 12 teams split into three groups, and each team plays the other three teams in its group. A win is worth two points, a loss is worth one point, and a loss by forfeit is worth zero points. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, along with the two best third-place teams. The single-elimination knockout stage begins with eight teams in the quarterfinals, with matchups determined by a random draw. The semifinal winners advance to the gold medal game, while the losers compete for bronze.
The Netherlands won the gold medal in the men's 3x3 basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics, defeating France in an overtime thriller. The German women's team took home the gold medal.
