Appointment: July 24-28
What there is to know: It will still have the classic court or pickup game vibes that come with any 3v3 basketball game. Except for a few days, 3-on-3 will be played on the biggest stage in international sport.
The format has grown in popularity not only in the United States but internationally over the past few decades. And not just in a casual sense, but competitively. With the introduction of other “street” sports in Tokyo – skateboarding, for example – the Olympic debut of 3-on-3 basketball, this cycle takes on real meaning.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) adopted formal 3-on-3 rules 14 years ago, and it was first played in competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. FIBA has been hosting a 3v3 World Cup since 2012, and in 2017 it was selected as an Olympic sport for Tokyo.
The competitions will take place at Aomi Urban Sports Park, a waterfront site overlooking Tokyo Bay that will later host the sport climbing competition.
How it works: The basics and rules of basketball are found in the 3v3 format. Dribbling, shooting, rebounding and defense remain the fundamentals – and players need to be able to excel in all phases of the game. With rosters set at four players per team, versatility is key and substitutions / rotations are frequent.
3-on-3 is played on half of a normal basketball court. The shot clock is set at 12 seconds, half of NBA 24 seconds, and well below the 30 seconds of college basketball. And the game is difficult to stop after mistakes or baskets made.
There is no tip. Rather, a toss decides the first possession. Winners are determined by the first at 21 points or who leads after 10 minutes. If the score is tied after 10 minutes, overtime will be played – the first team to score two points wins.
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Shots taken beyond the traditional three-point line count as two runs, and baskets made inside the arc count as one. Free throws count as one point and are awarded for fouls committed inside the arc.
The 3v3 game uses a size 6 ball, compared to the size 7 balls used in 5v5 games. The smaller size of the ball is suitable for the speed of the game.
3-on-3 players have more responsibility when it comes to strategy, as coaches are not allowed to play on the field.
Path to Gold: The U.S. team claims dominance on the basketball court, but the men won’t win 3v3 gold – they haven’t even qualified.
Only eight teams participate in the Olympics, for both the men’s and women’s tournaments. The Americans will certainly have a shot at winning gold, although there is no big favorite.
Each team will play the other seven over four days (two games the first three days). After the final match of the “group stage”, the teams in seventh and eighth places will be eliminated.
The semi-finals and the medal matches take place on the same day.
American athlete to watch: Allisha Gray, 3 against 3 women
2017 National Champion at the University of South Carolina, Gray led all American players with 39 points in last month’s qualifying tournament in Austria. Gray will play in Tokyo alongside Stefanie Dolson, Kelsey Plum and Katie Lou Samuelson.
International athlete to watch: Dusan Bulut, 3 v 3 men, Serbia
FIBA ranks him the number one 3-on-3 player in the world. Known for his passing, he can also create his shot and knock down 3 points. Serbia, who have developed the 3v3 game separately from their 5v5 efforts, have won four of the six World Cups since 2012.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.