Brian Windhorst claims FIBA intentionally makes it hard for NBA players to participate in 3×3 basketball in the Olympics because they don’t want the USA to win
Brian Windhorst claims FIBA intentionally makes it hard for NBA players to participate in 3×3 basketball in the Olympics because they don’t want the USA to win
I think it’s more due to the fact that players build their lives around 3×3 and it would be such a bad view if they let NBA players who didn’t dedicated one second to it play ahead of them
HalfBear-HalfCat
I’ve seen redditors saying this fairly frequently.
imminentjogger5
3v3 shouldn’t even be an olympic sport
ThinkSoftware
How dare FIBA require players to participate in 3×3 events before competing for a 3×3 medal?
kuliebop
who cares? It is remedial basketball
SEJ46
NBA players would be cool, but I’m fine with the qualification rules. But we surely have thousands of better options other than who was actually on the team. No offense.
Diamond4Hands4Ever
In order for the US to be the favorites in 3×3, they need to either (1) send 4 All Star level players (so overwhelming talent difference) or (2) 4 NBA level players *with chemistry* and experience. Even if the qualification rules were different, I don’t you can find 4 All Star level players who want to play 3×3. You can find 4 NBA players who want to play 3×3, but it’s no guarantee they have any chemistry.
The US Women’s team sent a 3xWNBA All Star in Dearica Hamby, a 2xWNBA All Star in Rhyne Howard, another WNBA level player in Cierra Burdick, and a future WNBA player in Haley Van Lith and *lost 4 times* in the 3×3 tournament, including the elimination game today. Referring was a bad today, but regardless, they lost 4 times and clearly weren’t the best team.
Keep in mind teams that beat them like Spain have 0 WNBA talent and usually there’s an even bigger gap between women basketball players and the rest of the world.
That shows me you cannot just send 4 random NBA players either and expect to win, so changing qualifying rules doesn’t really change much except it might embarrass 4 NBA players.
People keep thinking 3×3 is just basketball but the rules and strategies is the difference between running the 100m and the 110m hurdles or the 100m and 400m. Track is track, running is running, but for anyone who has run, those are very different events. Noah Lyles would never come close to making it to the Olympics in the 110m hurdles.
spotty15
I get that 3×3 may not be people’s preferred way of watching basketball, but suggesting it’s not legit is just crazy to me.
No. Randos could not beat some of these 3×3 teams. Y’all are severely underestimating just how difficult this is.
I’m not a 3×3 fan per se, but man, some of y’all really just don’t know….
william4534
Maybe I’m weird, but it’s hard to enjoy a sport at that level when you KNOW it isn’t the best players playing.
Ok_Respond7928
I said this on another post but for everyone calling these guys bums have you ever paid attention to 3×3 before? They won sliver at the World Cup in 2023.
victheogfan
Conspiracies over 3×3 basketball what a time to be alive
Shmokeshbutt
Send James Wiseman, Bones Hyland and Jalen McDaniels
Those bums barely play anyway
BoogerSugarSovereign
I don’t think NBA players would ever be very interested in this event given the funky rules structure
TheDeadman95
USA barely get their top players to play the normal 5v5 competitions, imagine someone asking them to come and play 3×3 lmao
ButtockFace
Is Big3 still a thing?
Maybe some of those guys could do something considering they also play 3v3, although a bit different if my memory serves me well.
Still need to get on the circuit to qualify, but at least they could start a tad higher than zero, all things considered.
Or maybe I’m just stoned, you decide.
Dick_Studman_420
I thought this is pretty standard for major sports. Don’t they only do 7s for Olympic rugby?
SakaSlide
Unpopular opinion- 3×3 basketball should’ve never been added to the Olympics
nba2k11er
That’s just how these sports work when you get big expensive leagues involved. He’s talking about “they’re fucking us.” It’s called business… and it goes both directions.
FIFA fucks the Olympics, limiting the amount of good players because it would hurt their World Cup, Copa America, etc.
MLB went into business with a different governing body, to make the World Baseball Classic, and even before that they didn’t let their players play in the Olympics. Didn’t want to have an international break in their season.
The NBA, for whatever reason, chose to work with the Olympics, and send B teams to the FIBA world cup instead. Probably a combination of Cold War embarrassment losing to the Soviets, and more money. In terms of 3×3, I doubt Adam Silver and the owners are that interested. The Mavs don’t necessarily want Kyrie to be there, the Celtics don’t necessarily want Jaylen Brown.
ILLStatedMind
Defense is not optional in 3 on 3
AppropriateArt280
Maddox and Barry have been the USA 3×3 for ages. They’re a part of the international community that has built 3×3 into an Olympian product. Swapping them for random NBA players would be lame as hell.
way2gimpy
The rule is they had to play x-amount of tourneys to be eligible. Since you can’t make any money playing 3-on-3 you’re never going to get a high caliber of player.
If they want to win, they need to get recently retired nba players who are willing to play these tourneys.
BadNewsBrown
I would’ve loved to see Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes compete for the back in ’92.
RallySausage
Who gives a shit.
FrankCarmody
Windy is such a blowjob
dearzackster69
Continue to be amazed how much money you can make just being an idiot publicly.
cleanscotch
US loses once thing and acts like this
BurzyGuerrero
Man STFU Canada won gold last time. Windy is bullshitting here for sure lol
TarkovBirdman
Can’t the nba just allow a small roster of players some exceptions, so they can take time off to compete in 3×3 and qualify for the olympics. Im willing to bet they could. Andre Drummond would probably love to play, id bet Pat Bev would too
Prince_of_DeaTh
are people really that dumb here? holy American brain, no good european players is playing there either.
Far_Reception5905
That guy needs to sit down. God he makes me anxious.
hyborians
Jumping through hoops? I’m quite sure every other event has prerequisites. Props to Ozempic though, Winhorst looking thinner
No_Celebration_9971
brooo…it’s two different sports, nba players wouldn’t be as good because it’s a whole different game
Comprehensive_Ad_675
It’s like rugby sevens. They want players to commit and to grow that version of rugby and why you don’t see teams like Nz sending all their all blacks.
Ridasz
It’s literally the same for everyone? Actually, the US managed to get the least random player in the whole tournament with NBA/Euroleague experience in Fredette
GM-T800-101
US/Western countries coping HARD 😂
toyota_gorilla
Does Windy think other nations are sending their best players and this some conspiracy aimed at the US?
36 Comments
I think it’s more due to the fact that players build their lives around 3×3 and it would be such a bad view if they let NBA players who didn’t dedicated one second to it play ahead of them
I’ve seen redditors saying this fairly frequently.
3v3 shouldn’t even be an olympic sport
How dare FIBA require players to participate in 3×3 events before competing for a 3×3 medal?
who cares? It is remedial basketball
NBA players would be cool, but I’m fine with the qualification rules. But we surely have thousands of better options other than who was actually on the team. No offense.
In order for the US to be the favorites in 3×3, they need to either (1) send 4 All Star level players (so overwhelming talent difference) or (2) 4 NBA level players *with chemistry* and experience. Even if the qualification rules were different, I don’t you can find 4 All Star level players who want to play 3×3. You can find 4 NBA players who want to play 3×3, but it’s no guarantee they have any chemistry.
The US Women’s team sent a 3xWNBA All Star in Dearica Hamby, a 2xWNBA All Star in Rhyne Howard, another WNBA level player in Cierra Burdick, and a future WNBA player in Haley Van Lith and *lost 4 times* in the 3×3 tournament, including the elimination game today. Referring was a bad today, but regardless, they lost 4 times and clearly weren’t the best team.
Keep in mind teams that beat them like Spain have 0 WNBA talent and usually there’s an even bigger gap between women basketball players and the rest of the world.
That shows me you cannot just send 4 random NBA players either and expect to win, so changing qualifying rules doesn’t really change much except it might embarrass 4 NBA players.
People keep thinking 3×3 is just basketball but the rules and strategies is the difference between running the 100m and the 110m hurdles or the 100m and 400m. Track is track, running is running, but for anyone who has run, those are very different events. Noah Lyles would never come close to making it to the Olympics in the 110m hurdles.
I get that 3×3 may not be people’s preferred way of watching basketball, but suggesting it’s not legit is just crazy to me.
No. Randos could not beat some of these 3×3 teams. Y’all are severely underestimating just how difficult this is.
I’m not a 3×3 fan per se, but man, some of y’all really just don’t know….
Maybe I’m weird, but it’s hard to enjoy a sport at that level when you KNOW it isn’t the best players playing.
I said this on another post but for everyone calling these guys bums have you ever paid attention to 3×3 before? They won sliver at the World Cup in 2023.
Conspiracies over 3×3 basketball what a time to be alive
Send James Wiseman, Bones Hyland and Jalen McDaniels
Those bums barely play anyway
I don’t think NBA players would ever be very interested in this event given the funky rules structure
USA barely get their top players to play the normal 5v5 competitions, imagine someone asking them to come and play 3×3 lmao
Is Big3 still a thing?
Maybe some of those guys could do something considering they also play 3v3, although a bit different if my memory serves me well.
Still need to get on the circuit to qualify, but at least they could start a tad higher than zero, all things considered.
Or maybe I’m just stoned, you decide.
I thought this is pretty standard for major sports. Don’t they only do 7s for Olympic rugby?
Unpopular opinion- 3×3 basketball should’ve never been added to the Olympics
That’s just how these sports work when you get big expensive leagues involved. He’s talking about “they’re fucking us.” It’s called business… and it goes both directions.
FIFA fucks the Olympics, limiting the amount of good players because it would hurt their World Cup, Copa America, etc.
MLB went into business with a different governing body, to make the World Baseball Classic, and even before that they didn’t let their players play in the Olympics. Didn’t want to have an international break in their season.
The NBA, for whatever reason, chose to work with the Olympics, and send B teams to the FIBA world cup instead. Probably a combination of Cold War embarrassment losing to the Soviets, and more money. In terms of 3×3, I doubt Adam Silver and the owners are that interested. The Mavs don’t necessarily want Kyrie to be there, the Celtics don’t necessarily want Jaylen Brown.
Defense is not optional in 3 on 3
Maddox and Barry have been the USA 3×3 for ages. They’re a part of the international community that has built 3×3 into an Olympian product. Swapping them for random NBA players would be lame as hell.
The rule is they had to play x-amount of tourneys to be eligible. Since you can’t make any money playing 3-on-3 you’re never going to get a high caliber of player.
If they want to win, they need to get recently retired nba players who are willing to play these tourneys.
I would’ve loved to see Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes compete for the back in ’92.
Who gives a shit.
Windy is such a blowjob
Continue to be amazed how much money you can make just being an idiot publicly.
US loses once thing and acts like this
Man STFU Canada won gold last time. Windy is bullshitting here for sure lol
Can’t the nba just allow a small roster of players some exceptions, so they can take time off to compete in 3×3 and qualify for the olympics. Im willing to bet they could. Andre Drummond would probably love to play, id bet Pat Bev would too
are people really that dumb here? holy American brain, no good european players is playing there either.
That guy needs to sit down. God he makes me anxious.
Jumping through hoops? I’m quite sure every other event has prerequisites. Props to Ozempic though, Winhorst looking thinner
brooo…it’s two different sports, nba players wouldn’t be as good because it’s a whole different game
It’s like rugby sevens. They want players to commit and to grow that version of rugby and why you don’t see teams like Nz sending all their all blacks.
It’s literally the same for everyone? Actually, the US managed to get the least random player in the whole tournament with NBA/Euroleague experience in Fredette
US/Western countries coping HARD 😂
Does Windy think other nations are sending their best players and this some conspiracy aimed at the US?