Basketball 3×3 is a variant of basketball that is faster and more intense than the standard game. It made its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2021, where Latvia won the gold medal. Basic 3×3 rules are pretty straightforward: it is a half-court game with three players per team, a 12-second shot clock, and the first team to score 21 points or lead at the end of 10 minutes wins.
Rules of 3×3 Basketball
Each team consists of 3 players on the court and 1 substitute.
Game Duration
- A game lasts 10 minutes, or until a team scores 21 points.
- If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, it goes into overtime where the first team to score 2 points wins.
Scoring
- Baskets made inside the arc are worth 1 point.
- Baskets made outside the arc are worth 2 points.
- Free throws are worth 1 point.
Shot Clock
Each team has 12 seconds to attempt a shot, making the game fast and requiring quick decision-making.
Court Size
The game is played on a half-court, with a standard basketball hoop and a reduced playing area.
Possession
- The game starts with a coin toss, and the winner decides whether to start with the ball or not.
- After each made basket or last free throw (except technical fouls), the opposing team receives the ball at the top of the arc.
- On defensive rebounds or steals, the team must take the ball beyond the arc before attempting to score.
Fouls
- Individual fouls are not tracked, but team fouls are. After 6 team fouls, the opposing team gets two free throws.
- Unsportsmanlike fouls lead to two free throws and possession of the ball.
- After 9 team fouls, the opposing team is awarded two free throws for each subsequent foul.
Olympic Competition Format
In both the men’s and women’s competitions, 8 teams qualified for the Olympics. All 8 teams are in the same pool, meaning each team plays against every other team.
- Group Stage:
- Each team plays against all other teams in their pool.
- Knockout Stage:
- The two best teams advance directly to the semifinals.
- Teams placed 3rd to 6th compete in the quarterfinals for the remaining two semifinal spots.
- The winners of the semifinals advance to the final to compete for the gold medal, while the losing teams compete for the bronze medal.
- Medal Matches:
- The losing semifinalists compete for the bronze medal, while the winners vie for gold and silver.
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Basic Olympic handball rules
What are the differences between Olympic and NBA Basketball?
Learn how to bet on basketball
USA 3×3 Men and Women Lose Olympics Debut, Next Games Scheduled for Today
The USA 3×3 basketball team features players Canyon Barry, Jimmer Fredette, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis. All of them transitioned from regular basketball to 3×3. Fredette, the most notable of the group, was the National Player of the Year in college basketball and played for several NBA teams before switching to 3×3 two years ago.
The team lost to Serbia 22:14 in their first game. Serbia is the number one favorite to win gold, having won 6 of the 8 World Cups ever held. Over the next five days, the USA will play six more games to try to secure a spot in the semifinals. Their next game is scheduled for today, July 31st, at 4:35 PM EDT against Poland.
The USA women’s team also faced a defeat in their first game, losing 17:13 to Germany. The team consists of Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, and Hailey Van Lith, all former college basketball players and current World Champions. Their next game is against Azerbaijan, scheduled for today at 3:30 PM EDT.
For those interested in exploring betting strategies, you might find our guide on how to bet on basketball useful. Additionally, if you’re curious about how the 3×3 format compares with traditional leagues, such as the NBA, take a look at our article on the differences between NBA and Olympics basketball.
