From the bustling streets of America to the Olympics – 3x3 basketball has shot into the limelight with blistering speed, much like the pace the game is played with.
Having originated as street basketball in the urban and semi-urban areas of the USA in the late 1980s, the game, at its core, is a condensed form of traditional full-court basketball. However, it wasn’t long before the backyard past-time became a cultural phenomenon.
Its soaring popularity eventually saw it being structured into a professional sport, with official rules sanctioned by the international basketball federation (FIBA), into the game that we know as 3x3 basketball today.
In 2010, the 3x3 game even made its global competitive debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
Just a decade after featuring at the Youth Olympics, 3x3 basketball made its bow in the senior event - for both men and women - at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
Here’s everything you need to know about the latest Olympic sport.
How is 3x3 basketball different from traditional basketball?
An offshoot of the traditional basketball, 3x3 basketball shares a lot with the original variant, including ball handling regulations, basic violation rules like goaltending, double dribble, three-second rules, and so on.
However, there are some key structural differences that set the two games apart.
3x3 basketball court size and divisions
Unlike the 5x5 game, which is played on a full-scale basketball court (28mx15m) with two hoops or rings at either end, a 3x3 game is played on a half court -- measuring 11m in length and 15m in breadth – with just a single hoop at one end and an end line at the other.
The playing area is divided into two parts by a semi-circular arc, drawn at a radius of 6.75m from the centre of the hoop. The area inside the arc is called the one-point zone and the area outside the arc is called the two-point zone.
3x3 basketball is played on half court with just one hoop.
There’s a rectangular area (5.8mx4.9m) under the hoop called the key and its outer edge parallel to the baseline is called the free throw line.
How many players are in one team of 3x3 basketball?
As the name suggests, 3x3 basketball features three players in each team as opposed to the five in traditional basketball games. There’s only one substitute allowed on the bench in 3x3 basketball, who can enter the game anytime during a dead ball situation by tagging an outgoing player.
The 3x3 basketball ball
The ball used in a FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 basketball game is different from a regular one. A 3x3 basketball ball is the same weight (620g) as the official size 7 basketball used in FIBA’s official men’s 5x5 games but is a little smaller (72.39cm in diameter). A size 7 basketball is 74.93cm in diameter.
The smaller size facilitates better ball handling to suit the faster pace of the game.
How do you play 3x3 basketball?
Based on the aforementioned structural differences, the game is played a little differently than regular basketball as well.
With just one hoop present, there’s no concept of attacking or defending halves for the teams. The game starts with a coin toss and the winner gets to choose whether to begin the game as the offensive team or the defensive team.
Possession switches between teams after every made basket, be it a successful field goal or an unsuccessful attempt. The defensive team can also win possession via a steal, block or defensive rebound. Possession can also be turned over in case of violations.
Once a player takes control of the ball inside the arc, they need to dribble it out or pass it to a team-mate outside the arc before they can take a shot. The ball can be moved around the court either by passing or dribbling.
3x3 basketball shot clock
Like traditional basketball, there’s also a shot clock which determines a fixed time frame under which the offensive team must attempt a shot after taking over possession. In 3x3 basketball, it’s just 12 seconds – half of the 24 seconds allowed in regular basketball.
Offensive teams in 3x3 basketball get only 12 seconds to make their shot at the basket after getting possession of the ball.
The core idea of the game is the same as regular basketball. The offensive team tries to score points by getting the ball inside the hoop from above while the defensive team tries to stop them.
3x3 basketball scoring
In 3x3 basketball, teams can earn points in two ways – scoring field goals/baskets or through free throws.
A field goal can earn two points or one point.
Two-point shot: Shooting and scoring a field goal from anywhere outside the arc line or from the two-point zone wins the team two points. These are referred to as two-pointers.
One-point shot: If a field goal is scored from inside the arc or the one-point zone, it is worth a single point.
Free throws, meanwhile, are always worth a point each.
Free throws: Awarded due to infractions by opposition players, free throws allow the fouled player to take one or two unimpeded shots at the basket from beyond the free throw line.
A FIBA-sanctioned game of 3x3 basketball is played over just a single 10-minute period. The first team to score 21 points instantly wins the match. If neither team reaches the threshold, the team with more points by the end of these 10 minutes is victorious.
If the score is tied by the end of regulation time, overtime comes into effect with the side which started the game as the defensive team getting first possession.
The first team to score two points in overtime wins the contest. If a team is at 20 points at the end of regulation time, scoring one more point in overtime will win them the match. So, 21 is the maximum number of points a team can score in a 3x3 basketball match.
3x3 basketball – a game of speed
With a smaller court, seamless transitions between offence and defence, lesser time and a shorter shot clock, 3x3 basketball action typically tends to be frantic entertainers, much like popular modern-day variations of traditional sports.
T20 – a shorter variation of cricket - can be considered as another example and like 3x3 basketball has seen rapid growth in popularity in recent years.
From an athlete’s perspective, 3x3 basketball focuses more on agility and versatility than endurance and tactics.
"It's global, it’s urban, it’s a show. It is so fast. You need to think quickly. If you want to be at a high level you have to develop all types of skill,” three-time FIBA 3x3 World Tour winner Dusan Bulut said.
At Tokyo 2020, Latvia became the first-ever 3x3 basketball Olympic champion in men's category while the USA clinched the honours in the women's division.
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In this guide, you'll learn everything about 3x3 basketball: what it's all about, the most important rules and what it takes to make a name for yourself as a 3x3 basketball player.
Written by Henner Thies / Baba Osikoya
7 min readPublished on
3x3, Big3, 3on3 - all of these terms relate to three-a-side basketball, but let's stick with 3x3 as the preferred term. In this guide, you'll discover the rules of the game, its most important terms, as well as the different leagues and tournaments. Plus much more...
01
The history of 3x3 basketball
3x3 basketball is fast-paced and extremely physical.
Organised 3x3 basketball has developed from streetball, where teams of individual recreational players usually play against each other in spontaneously-formed teams on open courts, without a referee. Streetball is also played mostly on one basket and mostly three against three (in streetball slang, "3-on-3") sometimes also two against two ("2-on-2"), four against four ("4-on-4") or even one against one ("1-on-1").
The world basketball federation, FIBA, first trialled organised 3x3 basketball games at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games in Macau, China. The format – featuring the use of only one basket and two teams of three players each – was well received. FIBA followed this trial with the first official 3x3 competition in 2010, as part of the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
Since 2012, FIBA has organised 3x3 World Championships as well as a 3x3 World Tour. In January 2017, the US rapper Ice Cube founded the 3x3 professional league Big3 in the USA. Later that year, in June, the International Olympic Committee announced 3x3 basketball as an event at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. (When the COVID-delayed games took place in 2021, USA won Gold in the women's event, while Latvia triumphed in the men's event.)
Since 2021, the Red Bull Half Court 3x3 tournament has also been looking for the world's best 3-on-3 streetballers - with stops in 20 countries.
3x3 is a variant of the classic sport of basketball, played by two teams of three players each. The action takes part on half a court, using one basket only. The points-scoring method is different to traditional basketball. In 3x3, a basket scored from inside the shooting circle counts as one point (instead of two points, as in classic basketball), while a hit from beyond the shooting circle counts as two points (and not three points, as in classic basketball).
Each 3x3 game lasts for 10 minutes, or until a team scores 21 points – whichever occurs sooner. In 3x3 you have 12 seconds on the shot clock, which is half as long as in the classic 5-on-5 basketball format, where you have 24 seconds to complete an attack.
Another big difference to traditional basketball is that the game does not stop when a basket is scored. In 3x3, the ball changes teams immediately once there is a score, and the game continues without interruption or throw-in. This is one of the reasons why 3x3 basketball is sometimes referred to by players as 'a 10-minute sprint'.
03
The most important 3x3 rules and terms at a glance
Start of the game: 3x3 basketball starts with a 'coin toss'. The team that wins the coin toss gets to decide whether it wants the ball at the start of the game or at the start of a potential overtime.
Game time and overtime: A 3x3 game lasts 10 minutes, unless one team manages to score 21 points before that time has elapsed. If the score is tied after 10 minutes, the game goes into overtime. During overtime, the team that scores two points first is the winner.
Check Ball: After each interruption (ball out of bounds, foul, or after free throws, etc.) the ball is handed over to the offensive player by the defensive player in the middle of the court beyond the throwing circle. Only after this 'check' does the game continue. The game clock and shot clock continue as soon as the offensive player has the ball.
Continuation after a successful basket: After a successful basket, possession of the ball changes. Unlike in classic basketball, however, the game continues immediately, without a throw-in or a check. There are only two requirements: 1. the team that has conceded the basket must bring the ball once (by dribbling or passing) behind the throwing circle. 2. the team that made the basket and is now defending must not obstruct the offensive player in the semicircle under the basket and must remain outside the small semicircle until the ball has been passed or dribbled out of the semicircle.
Continuation after offensive rebound: If the attacking team gets an offensive rebound, it may immediately throw again at the basket without first bringing it behind the throwing circle again.
Continuation after defensive rebound, block or steal: If the defending team wins the ball via defensive rebound, block or steal, it must first bring the ball behind the throwing circle before it may attack.
Jump ball situation: After a jump ball situation, the defensive team receives the ball.
Fouls and free throws: If a defensive player commits a foul on an offensive player during the throw inside the throwing circle, the offensive player receives one free throw - if the foul happens during the throw outside the throwing circle, there are two free throws. If the foul does not occur during the throw, only the possession of the ball changes. If a team commits more than six fouls during a game, the other team receives two free throws each time after the seventh foul. From the tenth foul onwards, there are two free throws plus possession for each foul. Personal fouls are not counted in 3x3.
Changing players: In 3x3 basketball, you can change players as often as you want. The only requirement is that the game must be interrupted. When changing players, the substitute player must tee off with the substitute player and the change must take place on the out-of-bounds line away from the basket.
04
The most important 3x3 events
FIBA 3x3 World Cup: The FIBA 3x3 World Cup is probably the most important global tournament for the top national teams. The 3x3 World Champions are determined here in three different events - the men's 3x3 tournament, the women's 3x3 tournament and the Dunk Contest. The 3x3WC tournament was held for the seventh time this year and took place in Antwerp, Belgium (June 21-26).
FIBA 3x3 World Tour: Comparable to the PGA Tour in golf or the WSL in surfing, the FIBA 3x3 World Tour is the highest level of play in the 3x3 basketball world. From May to December, the qualified teams collect points in a tournament format at spectacular stops from Japan to France. This year, it started with the Utsunomiya Opener in Japan on 14/15 May. Finally, the 3x3 World Tour Champion 2022 will be determined at the World Tour Finals in Abu Dhabi on 9/10 December.
FIBA 3x3 Women's Series: The FIBA 3x3 Women's Series is the most prestigious 3-on-3 series in the world. In 2022, the worldwide tournament series began on 28 May and the grand final will take place on 17/18 September in Constanta, Romania.
Red Bull Half Court: Since 2021, the world's best 3-on-3 streetball players have been able to compete in Red Bull Half Court, a 3x3 streetball tournament with stops in 20 countries around the world. This makes Red Bull Half Court the most global streetball tournament in the world. There are Red Bull Half Court heats throughout the summer, with the winning teams taking part in the world final in Egypt in September.
2 min
Red Bull Half Court Finale Berlin 2021
Das Red Bull Half Court Finale 2021 in Berlin im Mellow Park. 3 vs.3 Basketball vom Feinsten!
05
You should know this 3x3 player
Dusan Bulut: The 36-year-old Serb is a living streetball legend and the G.O.A.T of 3x3 basketball. Known as 'Mr. Bulletproof', he has been dominating his opponents on the court for over a decade now. Bulut combines a dangerous mix of mad skills, basketball IQ and all-out hustle. Throwing, passing, shooting – there's nothing the Magic Bullet Bulut can't do!
Let's talk about all the rules of 3x3 basketball, which recently made its debut at the Olympics.
Let's talk about all the rules of 3x3 basketball, which recently debuted at the Olympics.
REMEMBER THE RULES BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE THIS SPORT MORE AND MORE
How many people are on the team? How many people are on the site?
In 3x3 basketball, a team of 4 people can enter a tournament. There are three players on the court and there is always one replacement. The number of substitutions is not limited, as a rule, changes occur in each game break.
How many people are on the team? How many people are on the site?
In 3x3 basketball, a team of 4 people can enter a tournament. There are three players on the court and there is always one replacement. The number of substitutions is not limited, as a rule, changes occur in each game break.
What kind of ball is played?
A size 6 ball was designed specifically for 3x3 basketball but weighs like a standard size 7 basketball. This was done so that the players scored more and the game looked more dynamic. Also, the official 3x3 basketball is distinguished by the presence of a larger number of transverse grooves for better fixation and control. Official 3x3 basketball competitions are usually held outdoors.
How long is the game? To what account?
A 3x3 basketball game lasts 10 minutes of pure time or ends after one of the teams scores 21 points.
How long does it take to attack?
Unlike classic 5x5 basketball, where the attack lasts 24 seconds, in 3x3 basketball, the team can only hold the ball for 12 seconds. This rule was invented in order to make the game look more dynamic.
What must be done before launching an attack?
After the attacking team hits the ball in the basket or makes a turnover, the defending team must take the ball out of the three-point zone before the attack can begin.
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That's right, active defensive actions in 3x3 basketball follow immediately after a goal is scored in attack. An important nuance is the ban on taking the ball out of the zone limited by a semicircle under the ring. A warning is issued for the first such violation. In the future, the team is punished with a technical foul.
Any personal fouls?
There are no personal remarks in 3x3 basketball. Up to and including 6 team warnings, only violations committed at the time of the throw are penalized with a free throw. Starting with the 7th team foul, the referee awards two free throws for any infraction. Starting with 10 team fouls, for any infraction the team is penalized with two free throws with no line-up and the ball goes to the opponent.
So you can score 4 points in one attack?
That's right, in 3x3 basketball you can score 4 points in one attack, if, if the defending team has 6 team fouls, the player of the attacking team makes a long-range shot with a foul and then scores both free throws.
When is additional time required?
If 10 minutes of playing time has elapsed and the score is tied, the referee will award 5 minutes of extra time. The first team to score 2 points in overtime (two times one or one long-range shot) wins.
How many points can one team score in one game?
A team can score a maximum of 23 points in one game. This will happen if overtime starts at 20:20. In the first attack, the team will score one point, and in the second, they will implement a long-range attempt.
Does the team have a coach?
A 3x3 basketball coach cannot be within the court. As a rule, he is on the podium. For any tips from the coach, the team may be charged with a technical foul. However, athletes manage to look at each other and also use gestures to get information from the coach (what combination to play, who to replace, etc.).
3x3 games are held on a special high-quality surface, and this is stated in the competition regulations.
Now, thanks to the PlayStroy company, you have the opportunity to rent this official FIBA 3x3 "ENLIO" SES BATTLE surface for competitions and trainings in order to be as prepared as possible for the conditions of the games.
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Explaining the difference between 5x5 and 3x3 basketball
As 3v3 basketball grows in popularity, there are fewer and fewer ballers who are unfamiliar with the game. However, not everyone knows the full list of its features.
Author Red Bull Russia
Read 3 minPosted on
Court and ball
In 3x3 basketball, one hoop is played. A standard game court has dimensions of 15x11 meters. 3x3 basketball borrowed some marking elements from its classical counterpart: a free throw line, an arc - a two-point line (in 5x5 basketball this is a three-point line) and a "semicircle under the basket, in which collision fouls are not recorded."
Games are usually played with the official FIBA 3x3 ball. This is a weighted "six". This ball weighs like a classic "seven". In Red Bull Half Court, we play standard sixes (girls) and sevens (men).
A team for a 3v3 game must consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of four people (one substitute). The coach can be in the playing hall during matches, but has no right to interfere in the game process (take time-outs, give hints, make substitutions, etc.). If this rule is not followed, the team may receive a technical foul.
In 3v3 basketball, any hit from close and medium distances, as well as free throws, are valued at 1 point. Here the team receives 2 points for the “three-pointers” familiar to us in classic basketball. Bonus free throws are also possible in case of a successful shot with a foul (1 + 1 from close and long distances, 2 + 1 from behind the arc).
Fouls
A team is in a “team penalty foul” situation when it commits 6 fouls. 7th, 8th and 9th-th team fouls are penalized with 2 free throws. The 10th and each subsequent team foul is penalized with 2 free throws, with possession of the ball by the team taking those throws. A foul in the act of shooting inside the arc is awarded 1 free throw. A foul in the act of shooting from behind the arc is awarded 2 free throws.
A 3x3 basketball match lasts 10 minutes of playing time or until one of the teams scores 21 points. If the score is tied after regular time, overtime is played. The first team to score 2 points in overtime wins the game. The team has 12 seconds to attack.
The game starts with a “check”: putting the ball over the line of two-point shots and passing it to the nearest player of the opposing team. After each unsuccessful shot for a field goal or free kick, an opposing player on rebounding must take the ball over the two-point line and continue play. If possession is retained, the ball does not need to be withdrawn.
In 3x3 basketball, it’s just 12 seconds – half of the 24 seconds allowed in regular basketball.
The format – featuring the use of only one basket and two teams of three players each – was well received. FIBA followed this trial with the first official 3x3 competition in 2010, as part of the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
The action takes part on half a court, using one basket only. The points-scoring method is different to traditional basketball. In 3x3, a basket scored from inside the shooting circle counts as one point (instead of two points, as in classic basketball), while a hit from beyond the shooting circle counts as two points (and not three points, as in classic basketball).
The team that wins the coin toss gets to decide whether it wants the ball at the start of the game or at the start of a potential overtime.
There are only two requirements: 1. the team that has conceded the basket must bring the ball once (by dribbling or passing) behind the throwing circle. 2. the team that made the basket and is now defending must not obstruct the offensive player in the semicircle under the basket and must remain outside the small semicircle until the ball has been passed or dribbled out of the semicircle.
If the foul does not occur during the throw, only the possession of the ball changes. If a team commits more than six fouls during a game, the other team receives two free throws each time after the seventh foul. From the tenth foul onwards, there are two free throws plus possession for each foul. Personal fouls are not counted in 3x3.:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/liputan6/watermark-gray-landscape-new.png,540,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/2982948/original/079453600_1575190972-NBA_2K20_10.jpg)
There are Red Bull Half Court heats throughout the summer, with the winning teams taking part in the world final in Egypt in September.
This was done so that the players scored more and the game looked more dynamic. Also, the official 3x3 basketball is distinguished by the presence of a larger number of transverse grooves for better fixation and control. Official 3x3 basketball competitions are usually held outdoors. 
However, not everyone knows the full list of its features. 
The coach can be in the playing hall during matches, but has no right to interfere in the game process (take time-outs, give hints, make substitutions, etc.). If this rule is not followed, the team may receive a technical foul. 
A foul in the act of shooting from behind the arc is awarded 2 free throws. 
