FIBA: Who can challenge United States in 3×3 basketball at Paris

3×3 basketball returns to the Summer Olympics after a successful Olympic debut for the sport in 2021. Eight countries will be competing in 2024, headlined by the United States, who won gold in Tokyo in 2021, and China, who are currently ranked as the No. 1 3×3 team in the world according to FIBA.

The tournament will be held from July 30 through August 5 and will showcase some of the best basketball talent in the world in the unique 3×3 format. There are a few notable differences in 3×3 basketball compared to the traditional 5×5 format that most fans are used to, such as baskets being worth one or two points instead of two or three points and the game being limited to one hoop in a halfcourt setting. The games, which are only 10 minutes long, are fast-paced and emphasize synergy and quick decision-making by the players; because 3×3 basketball games are much shorter than traditional 5×5 games, it’s common to see a 3×3 team play several games in one day, and the Paris Olympics will be no exception.

In the first five days…