Why is Team USA so bad at 3×3 basketball? How 2024 Olympics rosters were built after losses by men and women

The United States saw both the men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball teams lose their opening games of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. 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 lost 17-13 to Germany, while the men fell 22-14 to Serbia. 

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 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 in 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 teamAfter their 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, but the game quickly got away from them. Team chemistry could be a factor, which should be expected as they have only played together for about two weeks.

Things are much different for the women’s 5×5 team, which has not lost a single game in the Olympics since 1992 and is currently chasing its eighth consecutive gold medal with a star-studded roster filled with experience. That group includes A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Team USA veteran Diana Taurasi, who is competing in her sixth Olympic Games. 

Meanwhile, the 3×3 group only has two players currently in the WNBA: Dearica Hamby from the Los Angeles Sparks and Rhyne Howard from the Atlanta Dream. Hamby replaced Sparks rookie Cameron Brink, who is out for the rest of the WNBA season due to a torn ACL.

Hailey Van Lith is still in college and Burdick, who hasn’t been on a WNBA roster since 2021, plays in Spain for Valencia. Both were part of the team that won gold at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, and Burdick was also on the 2014 team. That experience is valuable, but it’s not comparable to the amount of experience the 5×5 roster boasts.

The United States did win the women’s 3×3 gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but that roster was completely different than the one in Paris. That group had Stefanie Dolson, Alisha Gray, Kelsea Plum and Jackie Young. They only lost one game in pool play on their way to gold.

This current group was selected from a group of players who attended the Springfield training camp. The full list of players there included Brink, Burdick, Hamby, Van Lith, Howard, Azana Bains, Christina Dalce, Blake Dietrick, Allisha Gray, Linnae Harper, Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, Lucy Olsen, Katie Lou Samuelson, Madison Scott, Hailey Van Lith, Mikaylah Williams and Camille Zimmerman.

Men’s 3×3 teamOn the men’s side, the disappointment was similar after the first day of competition. USA sits at the bottom of the 3×3 standings along with Lithuania, which also scored just 14 points against France. However, this might not be the time to panic yet, as Serbia is possibly the strongest team in the field. 

The Serbians won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and are currently ranked as the world’s No. 1 team. They have Dejan Majstorovic returning from that Olympic team and added Strahinja Stojacic, the world’s top-ranked player. 

The U.S. men’s 3×3 roster consists of Jimmer Fredette, Dylan Travis, Canyon Barry and Kareem Maddox. So, no, they do not have a ton of NBA experience. Fredette played six seasons in the NBA, but his last stint in the league was six games with the Phoenix Suns in 2019.

The men’s 3×3 training camp was held in February, and the list of attendees included Travis, Fredette, Barry, Maddox, Trey Bardsley, Henry Caruso, Glen Dandridge Jr., Mitch Hahn, Justin Hamilton, Khalil Iverson, Jalen Lecque, Jeremy Lieberman, Trey McGowens, James Parrott, Klaye Rowe and Bryce Wills.  

By comparison, the 5×5 has a roster filled with veteran NBA stars, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Anthony Davis. Their team is looking for a fifth consecutive gold medal, while this is the first time the men’s 3×3 team has competed in the Olympics.

The current 3×3 team automatically qualified for the Paris Olympics because they finished second in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Who did they finish second to? Serbia, the same team the Americans lost to on Tuesday despite leading for much of the first half. That 2023 final was closer, as Serbia won 21-19. 

Although Tuesday’s loss was not how they wanted to make their Olympic debut, Fredette kept a positive attitude and was not feeling too worried about it. 

“It’s a long tournament for us, and we’re excited to get back at it tomorrow,” he said to NBC after the game.