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

The United States is off to a poor start in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the men’s and women’s teams are winless after their first six combined games. 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 suffered a 17-15 defeat to Australia on Thursday, following setbacks to Azerbaijan (20-17) and Germany (17-13). The men’s 3×3 team lost to Lithuania 20-18 on Thursday after earlier defeats to Poland (19-17) and Serbia (22-14). Both American teams are at the bottom of the standings in their respective competitions, and each will play seven games in the pool round. 

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 as 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 on 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 team

After their opening 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 against the Germans, 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. Against Azerbaijan, the game was competitive, but the Americans left Tiffany Hayes completely wide open for the winning layup with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Things are much different for the USA 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 team

On the men’s side, the disappointment was similar for Team USA after the first two days of competition. 

The 3×3 team qualified for the Paris Olympics because it finished second in the 2023 FIBA World Cup to Serbia, the same team that beat the Americans in Tuesday’s opener. Serbia entered the tournament as the world’s No. 1 ranked team, but it fell 21-15 to China on Wednesday. 

After its earlier loss, Team USA was not able to bounce back against Poland on Wednesday. The Americans struggled in several different areas, including going 2-for-15 in two-point shot attempts and being outrebounded 20-9. 

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. That team is looking for a fifth gold medal, while this is the first time the men’s 3×3 team has competed in the Olympics.

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.