The road to Olympic three-on-three basketball will wind through Boston
A qualifying tournament hosted by Red Bull will play in Boston on Sept. 7.
Dreaming of Olympic glory? Then it might be time to bust out the high-tops.
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo will feature eight men’s and eight women’s three-on-three basketball teams competing for the first time as an Olympic sport. USA Basketball and Red Bull are teaming up to identify potential players to represent the US in Tokyo.
Red Bull will host more than 20 qualifying tournaments across the country, with a stop in Boston Sept. 7, at a location to be announced. The winning teams will compete to accumulate individual FIBA points with the goal of moving on to the regionals in the fall, and then to the nationals next March, which will be used to select the national teams.
Games will be played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. The winner is the first team to 21 points or the team in the lead at the end of the 10-minute regulation.
There’s a new pathway to represent the USA in basketball. If you love 3×3, @redbull & USA Basketball have announced 20+ qualifiers where players can compete for a chance to join the USA men’s & women’s 3×3 national teams. Welcome to Red Bull 3X.
»» https://t.co/BhjqsXC3lC pic.twitter.com/xM6ZlTRqDB
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) May 2, 2019
Chris Mullin, a two-time Olympian and a member of the 1992 “Dream Team,’’ is an ambassador for the sport of three-on-three.
“It was an honor to wear USA on my chest and play for my country on a global stage,’’ Mullin said in a statement. “With 3×3 coming to the Olympics, I want to help grow the sport.
“I grew up playing 3×3, which is uniquely different than five-on-five. It really appeals to what I love about basketball — fast play, high energy, ball movement and teamwork. This gives so many players a way to keep playing ball and to potentially represent their country.’’
For more information and to register, visit redbull.com/3X.
