Team USA has qualified for the Olympics in men’s 3×3 basketball for the first time and will join the American women as they defend their gold medal next summer in Paris, FIBA announced Wednesday.
The U.S. men, as the No. 2-ranked team in the FIBA world rankings, avoided having to qualify next summer. No. 1 Serbia, which beat the U.S. in the gold-medal game earlier this year in the 3×3 World Cup, and No. 3 China also clinched an Olympic spot.
The Americans failed to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but won gold at the Pam Am games last month to help secure the Paris bid.
“Making it to the Olympics, that’s what it’s been all about for us,” said former NBA guard Jimmer Fredette, who has played for the U.S. 3-on-3 men’s program. “It means a ton. The opportunity to be able to represent our country at the Olympics would be an amazing experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to represent our country a few times, but the Olympics is a whole different level.”
The women’s team also holds a No. 2 FIBA ranking, earning an Olympic berth along with No. 1 China and No. 3 France. The American women won the World Cup gold last summer in…
