Basketball courts are gaining more and more space and prominence in Brazil and around the world. From the Olympics to weekend community competitions, the sport and its newest 3×3 discipline show that great athletes are just waiting for an opportunity to shine.
With its compact dimensions, absence of the traditional basket and fast pace, this style of play provides a different approach to basketball, challenging individual skills and promoting spectacular moments.
But how did it all begin? Discover the thrill of 3×3 basketball, a unique and dynamic sport that creates spectacular and exciting moments in every match.
Learn about the history, rules, the first professional athlete in the category in the country and how to make your space perfect for this fascinating sport. Let’s start this journey right now! Follow along until the end and immerse yourself in the world of 3×3 basketball!
What is 3×3 basketball?
Set to make its debut at the 2020 Olympic Games, 3×3 is a sport that has some peculiarities compared to the sport played on traditional basketball courts.
The history of 3×3 basketball goes back to the roots of the sport itself. In the 1930s and 1940s, basketball courts were much smaller than they are today, and games were often played in cramped spaces.
It was in this environment that the concept of 3×3 basketball began to develop.
Players began to experiment with informal matches with fewer players on each team, adapting the rules to suit the space available. The game became faster, more agile and more exciting.
With smaller dimensions, differentiated scoring lines and a lively atmosphere, this type of basketball court makes for a dynamic and exciting game.
Difference from conventional basketball courts
3×3 basketball courts have a few peculiarities that distinguish them from traditional courts. Let’s get to know some of these differences:
Court dimensions
While a traditional basketball court has dimensions of 28 x 15 meters, a 3×3 basketball court has more compact dimensions , measuring 15 x 11 meters.
This reduction in size makes for a faster game, in which players have less space to move around and make moves.
Marking lines
As well as being smaller, the courts in this sport have different scoring lines to traditional courts. Instead of the traditional free-throw and three-point lines, 3×3 basketball courts only have a two-point line, located 6.75 meters from the hoop.
Changes like these to the scoring lines encourage a more dynamic game with a greater focus on plays close to the hoop.
What are the rules of 3×3 basketball?
Number of players
Each team is made up of 3 players, with no reserves. Substitutions are not allowed during the game.
Game time
The playing time is 10 minutes or until one of the teams reaches 21 points, whichever comes first. Each team has 12 seconds to execute the play.
If no team reaches 21 points by the end of the 10 minutes, the team with the highest score wins.
Free throws
Fouls are scored as normal, but instead of individual free kicks, the free kicks are taken in sequence. In other words, the player who was the victim of the foul is entitled to only one free throw, which is worth 1 point.
If it is converted, the other player from the same team can attempt the second free throw, also worth 1 point. The free throws are taken in sequence until the team loses possession.
Ball possession
The team that concedes the basket has the right to regain possession and attack immediately. There is no need to take the ball to the baseline after a basket.
Score values
Free throws and baskets from inside the 2-point arc are worth 1 point, while baskets from outside the 2-point arc are worth 2 points.
Throwing rule
After a shot at the basket, the team that grabs the rebound has to take the ball outside the three-point line before they can attempt a shot.
Absences
Fouls are called, just like in traditional basketball, and are cumulative until a certain limit is reached. From the opposing team’s seventh free throw, all fouls result in two free throws for the player hit.
Leandro Discreto and 3×3 basketball in Brazil
An important figure on the 3×3 basketball court scene in Brazil is Leandro Discreto, the first professional athlete in the sport in the country.
Leandro made a name for himself as a traditional basketball player, even playing alongside basketball greats such as Oscar Schmidt, but he found a new opportunity to shine in the 3×3 sport.
With his entry into 3×3 basketball, Leandro has contributed to the growth and popularization of the sport, taking it to a new level in Brazil. His partnership with various sports institutions, and with leading companies such as Altipisos, has also been fundamental in attracting more athletes and fans to 3×3 basketball.
With the talent and dedication of Leandro Discreto, this form of basketball is gaining more and more ground on the Brazilian sports scene, arousing the interest of young players and providing a unique experience for both the athletes and the public.
Altipisos supports sports projects with modular flooring
Did you know that Altipisos is the official court supplier for all the events of the National 3×3 Basketball Association (ANB3X3)?
The brand is a leader in the Brazilian modular flooring market, which demonstrates its reliability and quality, proven by the wide variety and excellence of its products, as evidenced by the successful partnership with the association.
Altipisos, confident in the quality of its modular flooring solutions and committed to sport, also supported the Basketball Transforms SC project, delivering a modular flooring court that highlights the social transformation of sport in the state.
👉 Check out the records of this project by clicking here.
Want to take your 3×3 basketball court project to the next level? Count on the safety and quality of Altipisos modular flooring! Request your quote now and turn your court into a winning stage.
