2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the 3X3 basketball competitions in Paris
A roadmap to follow for the 3X3 basketball competition during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Athletes to watch
Jimmer Fredette, United States: The 35-year-old Fredette, who became a superstar at BYU and was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, headlines the American men’s team. He began playing 3X3 in 2022 and was named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2023.
Canyon Barry, United States: The son of Hall of Famer Rick Berry played collegiately at the College of Charleston and Florida. He was the 2017 Academic All-American of the Year and has a bachelor’s degree in physics and masters degree in nuclear engineering. He is known for his unorthodox underhand free-throw shooting, which helped him shoot 88.3% from the line as a senior.
Strahinja Stojacic, Serbia: Stojacic started playing 3X3 full time in 2018 and has been ranked as the world’s top player for most of the past two seasons. The son of a professional basketball player, Stojacic is known for his epic dunks and is nicknamed “Doctor Strange.”
Hailey Van Lith, United States: Van Lith also helped the U.S. win gold at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Van Lith, who plays at TCU, was named MVP of the 2019 FIBA 3X3 Under-18 World Cup after leading the team to a gold medal.
Storylines to follow
The U.S. men’s team will compete in the event for the first time after failing to qualify in the inaugural contest in Tokyo. The addition of Fredette has vaulted the team to gold medal contenders this time around after the USA won silver at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and gold at both the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup in Miami and the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.
Rhyne Howard, who plays for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, is on the U.S. women’s team alongside Van Lith, Cierra Burdick and Dearica Hamby, who is replacing an injured Cameron Brink. Howard played 3×3 for the first time with the U.S. at a training camp in Springfield, Mass., in April.
Serbia is ranked No. 1 in the world and is expected to contend with the United States for gold after winning bronze in Tokyo. Led by Stojacic, Serbia beat Team USA 21-19 to win the last World Cup.
Key dates
Pool play runs from July 30-Aug. 4. Semifinals and medal games are Aug. 5.
Reigning champions
- Women: United States
- Men: Latvia