
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is an annual event held in more than 75 cities across the United States. The tournament is open to players of all ages and skill levels and features both indoor and outdoor competitions. The 2025 tournament will be held on 16-17 August in Iron Mountain, Michigan, with proceeds going towards the renovation of the Imagination Factory Community Center.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 16-17 August 2025 |
| Location | Iron Mountain, Michigan |
| Participants | Over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators |
| Frequency | Annually, every weekend from spring to summer |
| Format | 3-on-3 basketball, double-elimination with winners' and losers' brackets |
| Rules | Uses NCAA/NBA standard, games start with a coin flip, 25-minute time limit |
| Sponsorship | Over 125 sponsors, no alcohol or tobacco |
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What You'll Learn
- The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is held annually in over 75 cities across the US
- The tournament is open to players of all ages and skill levels
- The rules differ from those of FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball
- The tournament prohibits alcohol and tobacco sponsorships
- The 2025 Gus Macker Tournament will be held in Iron Mountain, Michigan, on 16-17 August

The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is held annually in over 75 cities across the US
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is an annual event held in over 75 cities across the United States. It is a nationwide tournament that attracts players of all ages and skill levels. The tournament was first held in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan, with 18 friends competing for a $18 purse. Since then, it has grown significantly, with over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators expected to attend the tournament in more than 75 cities this year.
The tournament is a mid-to-major level sports media event, held almost every weekend from spring to summer. It involves basketball courts set up in parking lots or closed-off public streets and includes both indoor and outdoor competitions. The rules of the tournament differ significantly from those of FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball. While both are played on half of a standard full court, Macker uses the NCAA/NBA standard court size, while FIBA uses a slightly smaller court.
Games in the Macker tournament are 25 minutes long and may start with any number of players on the court, up to 3 per team. Each team is allowed 2 timeouts per game, except in age-group divisions for players 40 and over, where 2 timeouts are permitted. The tournament features a unique scoring system, with different ending scores depending on the division and bracket. For example, the Top Division (men and women) has a winners' bracket of 20 points and a losers' bracket of 15 points, with a 2-point victory margin required.
The Gus Macker Tournament is a wholesome, family-oriented event that has become a popular mass participation sport. It often includes special events such as obstacle course competitions, free throws, 3-point shooting contests, and slam dunks. Local communities embrace the tournament, and it has become a highly anticipated annual tradition in many cities across the US.
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The tournament is open to players of all ages and skill levels
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is a nationwide event in the United States that is open to players of all ages and skill levels. It is a wholesome, family-oriented event that has become a mass participation sport. The tournament currently holds both indoor and outdoor competitions annually in more than 75 cities, with over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators.
The tournament was started in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan, by Scott McNeal (alias Gus Macker) and his brother Mitch, who gathered 18 friends for a competitive tournament with a purse of $18. As the tournament grew, the McNeals moved it to Belding in 1987 and then took it on the road to other communities, branding it as the "Gus Macker All-World Tour". Over 10,000 players entered the tournament as it visited five cities that year.
The Gus Macker Tournament has different rules from FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball. Both are played on half of a standard full court, but Macker uses the NCAA/NBA standard, while FIBA uses its own slightly smaller court. Macker games may start with any number of players on the court, up to three per team, while FIBA games may only start with three players from each team on the court. Both use 1- and 2-point field goals, but the 2-point arcs differ between the rule sets. Macker events have no shot clock, while official FIBA events have a 12-second shot clock. Games are 10 minutes long in official FIBA play, and 25 minutes in all Macker divisions.
Macker tournaments are double-elimination, with winners' and losers' brackets, as well as a consolation "Toilet Bowl Bracket" for teams that lose their first two games. The ending scores vary depending on the division and bracket. For example, the Top Division (men and women) has a 20-point winners' bracket, with a 2-point victory margin required unless 25 points are reached. The losers' bracket is 15 points, with the same victory margin unless 20 points are reached. The Toilet Bowl Bracket has a 10-point limit, with no required victory margin. Neighborhood divisions have a 15-point limit in all brackets and a 2-point victory margin, except in the Toilet Bowl Bracket.
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The rules differ from those of FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is a nationwide event in the United States, held annually in more than 75 cities, with over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators. The tournament was first held in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan, and has since become a mid-level to major sports media event.
The rules of the Gus Macker tournament differ from those of FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball. While both are played on half of a standard full court, the Macker tournament uses the NCAA/NBA standard court size, whereas FIBA uses its own slightly smaller court. Macker games may start with any number of players on the court, with a maximum of 3 per team, whereas FIBA games may only start with 3 players from each team on the court.
Both Macker and FIBA use 1- and 2-point field goals, but the 2-point arcs differ between the two rule sets. FIBA uses an arc 6.75 metres (22.1 ft) from the centre of the basket, except along the sidelines, where it is 0.9 metres (35 in) from the sideline. Macker uses different arcs for its top men's and women's divisions and "Neighbourhood" play. In both top divisions, the US high school arc of 19.75 feet (6.02 m) is used, whereas in Neighbourhood play, no arc is set, but a distance of 18 feet (5.5 m) is suggested.
The first possession of a game is determined by a coin flip in both rule sets, but there is a slight difference. In FIBA play, the winner may choose to take possession either at the start of the game or the start of a potential overtime. In Macker play, the winner of the coin toss receives possession immediately. Games are 10 minutes long in official FIBA play, and 25 minutes in all Macker divisions. FIBA, however, allows grassroots events to be held without a game clock, suggesting a score limit in points equal to the elapsed time in minutes. If the time limit is reached before a set winning score, the leading team is declared the winner. Macker events have no shot clock, whereas official FIBA events have a 12-second shot clock, with this feature being optional for grassroots events.
Macker allows each team 2 timeouts per game in top divisions, whereas FIBA allows each team only 1 timeout per game. Neighbourhood divisions in Macker allow only 1 timeout except in age-group divisions for players 40 and over, in which 2 timeouts are permitted.
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The tournament prohibits alcohol and tobacco sponsorships
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is an annual event that takes place in more than 75 cities across the United States, with over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators in attendance. The tournament is held virtually every weekend from spring through summer and is open to players of all ages and skill levels.
The tournament has a strict no alcohol or tobacco sponsorship policy. This means that companies in the alcohol or tobacco industry are prohibited from sponsoring the event. The policy is in place to maintain the tournament's family-friendly atmosphere and to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all participants and spectators.
The Gus Macker tournament is known for its commitment to community engagement and competitive play. It began in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan, when Scott McNeal (Gus Macker) and his brother Mitch organised a friendly competition among 18 friends. As the tournament grew, the brothers took it on the road to other communities, and it became known as the "Gus Macker All-World Tour".
The tournament has its own set of rules, which differ from those of FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball. Macker games are played on half of a standard full court, using the NCAA/NBA standard, and may start with any number of players on the court, up to 3 per team. Games last for 25 minutes, and there is no shot clock. Each team is allowed 2 timeouts per game in the top divisions, except in age-group divisions for players 40 and over, where 2 timeouts are permitted.
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The 2025 Gus Macker Tournament will be held in Iron Mountain, Michigan, on 16-17 August
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is an annual event held in over 75 cities across the United States, with more than 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators. The tournament is open to players of all ages and skill levels, and each event is different, with basketball courts set up in parking lots or closed-off public streets.
Iron Mountain has a strong connection to the Gus Macker Tournament, with the support of numerous local businesses and organizations. The event typically attracts over 125 sponsors, contributing to equipment, programs, activities, and new exhibits at the Imagination Factory Community Center.
The Gus Macker Tournament is a unique and wholesome, family-oriented event that has evolved into a popular mass participation sport. It offers a great opportunity for sponsors and provides entertainment for spectators, all while supporting a worthy cause. The tournament prohibits alcohol and tobacco sponsorships and follows a distinct set of rules, such as allowing games to start with any number of players on the court, up to 3 per team.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is held annually in over 75 cities in the United States. The tournament takes place virtually every weekend from spring through summer.
The original Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament began in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan.
The Gus Macker Tournament is a nationwide event for players of a variety of ages and skill levels.
The tournament is held in different cities across the United States. For example, in 2025, it will be held in Iron Mountain, Michigan, and Flint Beecher.
The tournament holds both indoor and outdoor competitions, with over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators. It is a wholesome, family-oriented event with various special features, such as an obstacle course competition, shoot-arounds, and Saturday contests like free throws, 3-point shooting, and slam dunk.











































