The United States is off to a poor start in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the men’s and women’s teams are winless after their first six combined games. This doesn’t mean the journey to the podium is over, but it is important to point out that U.S. fans should perhaps manage their expectations differently when it comes to 3×3 teams compared to the 5×5 squads — at least for now.
The women’s 3×3 team suffered a 17-15 defeat to Australia on Thursday, following setbacks to Azerbaijan (20-17) and Germany (17-13). The men’s 3×3 team lost to Lithuania 20-18 on Thursday after earlier defeats to Poland (19-17) and Serbia (22-14). Both American teams are at the bottom of the standings in their respective competitions, and each will play seven games in the pool round.
Yes, the U.S. is considered to be the most dominant country in the world when it comes to talent in the NBA and WNBA. But the Olympics are totally different. The 3×3 game is very fast paced, uses only half the court, lasts a maximum of 10 minutes and only includes baskets that count for one or two points (no 3-pointers).
In addition, there are stipulations as to who can play for each 3×3 roster. Players accrue points by playing in more sanctioned 3×3 events over the course of the year, and those who have not participated are not allowed to be placed on the team, unlike with 5×5 rosters, where first-timers are eligible for any competition. Those guidelines certainly led to tougher situations for USA Basketball in building these rosters, but longer-range planning and better selling the 3×3 game to top stars could have remedied them. Instead, we’re left with the best basketball country in the world, losing in both men’s and women’s 3×3 games on the same Olympics day.
Here is a closer look at what is going on with each Team USA 3×3 roster:
Women’s 3×3 team
After their opening loss to Germany, Cierra Burdick admitted she “didn’t think it was going to be that ugly.”
The Americans had an early 5-0 lead against the Germans, but the game quickly got away from them….
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