Colorado Springs, Colorado – Featuring up to 16 men’s and 16 women’s 3x3 teams and many of the nation’s top 3x3 players, USA Basketball today announced it will hold the 2021 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals for men and women at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, from June 12-13.
“There isn’t a more fitting location to hold the 2021 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals than the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball chief executive officer. “The Hall is home to basketball’s amazing legacy, and USA Basketball is delighted that the Basketball Hall of Fame will host this year’s 3x3 National Championships. Partnering with organizations such as Red Bull and now the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has helped raise awareness of 3x3 basketball and the national championships, while also helping to increase the involvement and level of competition each year. Basketball fans are in for a real treat from what I’m sure will be another thrilling weekend of 3x3 competition.”
The Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals will tip-off June 12 with preliminary round games. Teams will be seeded based on preliminary records, and the knockout rounds will be held June 13. Games are being played on the Hall of Fame’s Center Court Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams, which is located in the heart of the Museum. The event is open to the public with purchase of admission pass to the Hall of Fame.
“The Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate all levels of the game, both domestically and internationally, and we couldn’t be more excited to host USA Basketball’s best 3-on-3 athletes,” said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “We look forward to seeing this format of the game being played in the Birthplace of Basketball and at the Olympic level starting this summer.”
In addition to the lure of a 3x3 national championship, the event also will serve as the final evaluation of athletes for selection to the U.S. Women’s 3x3 Olympic Team and will serve to identify athletes for other 2021 USA men’s and women’s 3x3 National Teams.
Fans will see the inclusion of 3x3 in Tokyo this summer. The exciting and fast-paced game officially was unveiled in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and since has become a fan favorite. Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner.
Participating teams will have earned their spots in the 2021 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals either through Red Bull USA Basketball 3X regional qualifying tournaments or via an official invitation from USA Basketball.
Comprehensive health and safety protocols will be utilized during the 2021 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals, including mandatory and regular COVID-19 PCR testing administered to athletes, officials and staff in accordance with FIBA and USA Basketball recommendations and CDC guidelines.
Held annually every year since 2012, with the exception of 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 marks the ninth edition of the 3x3 national championships, the second edition of Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals and the second time the event has been held outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A team from Arizona, Desert Pro-Am, captured the inaugural USA Basketball Men's 3x3 National Championship and earned the right to represent the USA at the 2012 FIBA 3x3 World Cup. Since then, Denver (2013, 2015), Ariel (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) and 3-Ball Premier (2016) have earned the championship trophy. Teams in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019 went on to represent USA Basketball at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup. The 2019 USA squad, comprised of three members of the victorious Ariel team, won the FIBA 3x3 World Cup gold medal.
A team comprised of Skylar Diggins, Bria Hartley, Chiney Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas captured the inaugural USA Basketball Women’s 3x3 National Championship and earned the right to represent the USA at the 2012 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, where Thomas was replaced by Ann Strother due to injury. Since then, FST-Long Island (2013), Takeover (2014), Unknowns (2015, 2016), Huskies (2017) and Ducks (2018, 2019) have earned the championship trophy. In addition to the 2012 team, which claimed gold at the inaugural FIBA 3x3 World Cup, the USA 3x3 National Championship winners in 2014, 2016 and 2018 represented USA Basketball at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, winning gold in 2014 and bronze in 2016.
After the 3X Nationals, the new season of Red Bull 3X will kick off July 10 in partnership with USA Basketball. Twenty men’s and women’s qualifier tournaments around the country, plus four regional championship events, will help identify a new pipeline of 3x3 talent who have a goal of competing in the Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals. Interested players can head to www.redbull.com/3X for more information and to register.
About USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five, 3x3 and esports international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world-ranking categories, including combined, men’s, women’s, boys and girls.
Connect with USA Basketball at USAB.com and on Facebook (USABasketball and USABYouth), Twitter (@usabasketball, @USABYouth, @USAB3x3, @usabgaming), Instagram (@USABasketball, @USAB3x3, @USABYouth, @USABgaming) and YouTube (usabasketball).
About Red Bull
Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 170 countries worldwide and more than 7.8 billion cans of Red Bull were consumed last year, 3 billion of those in the U.S. alone. Red Bull Energy Drink’s signature 8.4 fl oz can contains 80 mg of caffeine, about the same amount as in a home-brewed cup of coffee. For more information, visit energydrink-us.redbull.com.
About The Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level. The Hall of Fame has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq. ft. of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.