According to the Associated Press, 3-on-3 basketball is expected to be added to the Olympic program. The sport is one of 60 proposals for additions to the Olympic schedule, and it is a favorite to be selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) next Friday at an executive board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The AP concluded that 3-on-3 was a selection favorite “after all [sports] were analyzed by an International Olympic Committee advisory panel.”
Decisions on which (if any) sports to add to the Olympic program are due at the meeting on Friday, which was called initally to discuss potentially awarding both the 2024 and 2028 Olympic bids to Paris and Los Angeles, respectively, at the same time later this year.
The 3-on-3 basketball games would be played half-court, just like most pickup games are played. According to the AP, the sport looked ready to be added to the 2016 Rio Games, until organizers were too busy preparing for the already-set sports to plan out space and scheduling for 3-on-3.
“Now there is an urban cluster that has been created,” FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann told The Associated Press. “The best urban team sport is 3-on-3 street basketball. It would certainly be a perfect fit.”
The AP says that adding 3-on-3 to the Summer Games would bring in 96 more athletes to the Olympics, which is important in the IOC’s decision, as they need to have enough space for housing and training/competition spaces for the athletes.
I would bet that the NBA contingent would not play in the 3v3 tournament as it would probably overlap some with the 5v5 tournament (the 5v5) one already takes up the whole 2 weeks (and a few games before opening ceremonies i believe). I bet you would see more of the “freakish” athlete types in this, like Derrick Jones Jr. or actual street ball players like what the old And1 Mixtape things were. I also would bet that the US would have MUCH more competition with this than the 5v5. I’m not sure it would be such an easy transition for NBA players, and I would imagine that NBA coaches and owners would not want their stars playing this as… Read more »
I second your beach soccer comment. Though I think I like watching regular soccer more than you, beach soccer was also a ton of fun – and for me, right now the only reason beach isn’t better is because the names aren’t as big – not as much star power.
Rio would’ve been the perfect place to add that, so I wonder who next as a host committee would push for it. LA seems the likely candidate, but if not then, then whom?
My biggest surprise about 3v3 isn’t it’s entertainment factor, it’s around the “structure.” They usually don’t admit sports until there’s some grand international structure already in place and a high level of participation. Is FIBA already… Read more »
There is a FIBA 3v3 World Cup, and it actually starts in about 10 days in France. The USA team is ranked 4th in the world now, and none of the guys on the team are anyone I have heard of. The 2 best players are 30 year old guys who played at Northwestern and Princeton…so take that for what it’s worth.
I think that also speaks to what you were saying about the lack of star power or names in beach soccer. There obviously aren’t any in 3v3 basketball right now either. And again with the scheduling combined with the fact that USA already has an international team, I just dont see any NBA player (At least not… Read more »
Team Australia would be pretty dope if Kyrie chose to rep his citizenship from down under: Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Patty Mills/ Dante Exum.
Irving has already represented USA in international competition. He’s not switching to Australia. That would probably require quite a bit of work for a lesser medal and less meaningful medal compared to 5 on 5.
I wouldn’t say it is out of the question. When he made the decision in 2012 he said he still was “Australian at heart.” In 2020, Simmons will have a Rookie of the Year title and few years under his belt (probably a Finals appearance as well) and Kyrie will be the best player in the League (arguable, but given this years playoffs performance…he’s a front runner!) with James getting older. Add in a young Exum or veteran Mills. Plus, Brett Brown as head coach. Is it possible? Yes. Probable? Probably not. Would make it very interesting!
I’m telling you right now Ben Simmons will not have been to “a few finals.”
You must live in Philadelphia and be an Australian to be that naive. He’s not even a lock to be ROY this year. And you think within his first 3 years of playing he’ll have been to multiple finals? Keep dreaming.
Exum will be a solid role player just like Mills is. If Kyrie plays for Australia, I will happily write you a hand written note apologizing.
Sorry you didn’t say multiple finals, but I’ll be shocked if they even make multiple playoff appearances let alone a single finals appearance.
Not an Aussie but I am a Sixer fan! I’ll gladly go on record saying Sixers will be in an NBA final by summer of 2020, with a core of Simmons/Embiid/Saric and a 3rd overall pick this year (+ Lakers 2018’s first round & King’s 2019 first round on top of their natural picks) I am trusting the Process! We’ll go after a veteran this summer and start winning some games.
Please, someone correct me if I’m just being an ignorant ‘Merican, but it seems to me that this means another gold for the US.
The question that comes to mind is: How far could you go down the list of best basketball players in the US (1-3, 4-6, etc.) before you have a team that *wouldn’t* win?
It depends who is going to play. This is a sport right now and the USA team is 3 no name college guys with only college experience. It depends if the NBA guys will buy into it or not.
Really far. I assume we’d still put our best guys on the 5 on 5 team, then the best of whatever’s left on this.
I’ll take Lebron, Durant, and Kawhi Leonard for my three.
No way. Split up best players. And maybe even have 3 man teams with players that come from the same NBA team.
Lebron + Kyrie on same team
Curry + Durant
Could substitute Curry in for any of my 3, but I think speed and size would be key in a tournament like that. Durant and Kawhi can shoot 3’s and get to the hoop easily. Lebron can get to the hoop and be the distributor. Big centers are too slow, and point guards have trouble getting to the hoop against big guys
Centers are pretty much obsolete on 3v3.
I’d like to see Harden, Westbrook, Durant be stuck on a team lol
How are centers obsolete on 3-v-3? It’s easier to get them the ball for a high-percentage shot, and they don’t have to lumber across a full court.
That would be a string team, if gianis is an American citizen he would be good too.
But in all honesty I want to see AI the black mamba and another old legend.
Those two could probably still throw down a nasty 3v3 game. Kobe for sure…And 3v3 was made for AI. AI, Kobe, James…Three best players of the last decade at their best (though AI’s window was much smaller than the other two). I honestly wouldn’t be worried about his conditioning..he never worked out during his pro career anyway.. Practice?
what else are they adding?