As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is set to begin on July 26, one of its newer sports was showcased by the NCAA at State Farm Stadium.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!During halftime of the Final Four matchup between Alabama and UConn, the 3×3 basketball teams of USA and Puerto Rico faced off against each other in front of a packed crowd in Glendale.
At halftime between Alabama and UConn in the second Final Four matchup, the USA and Puerto Rico 3×3 basketball teams showcased a sample of what the new Olympic sport will look like in Paris this year. #USA #PuertoRico #MarchMadness #NCAA
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— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) April 7, 2024
Instead of the fans going to concessions or walking around State Farm Stadium at halftime, the majority of them stayed and watched what this unique sport had to offer.
Team USA won 16-8 over Puerto Rico on one-half of the full court while following the official FIBA Basketball rules of the sport.
Unlike the traditional basketball format with five players a side, there were three players per team in this sport. Each team does have one substitution to use, completing a lineup of four players.
From inside the arc, each normal two-point shot is worth one and a three-pointer is two in 3×3. Free throws are still one point.
To decide a winner, it is the team who leads at the end of 10 minutes or whoever scores 21 points first.
During the 2020 Tokyo Games, the sport made its official debut with Team Latvia taking home the gold medal. The Russian Olympic Committee finished in second and Team Serbia was third.
Out of the United States players on the roster, there was a familiar face to the Valley: former Phoenix Suns guard Jimmer Fredette. Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis rounded out the team.
In Paris, it will be the first Olympics the U.S. in which the country will be involved in this sport. The team’s schedule is not available at this time.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
