PARIS, France – The FIBA 3×3 World Tour arrives in France for the first time after a decade in the making, and excitement is high ahead of the Paris Masters on October 7-8.
Here are all of the crucial details concerning the ninth event of the season.
Where can I watch the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters in Paris?
The action will be streamed live on the FIBA 3×3 YouTube, Facebook, Sina Weibo, and Douyin pages from October 7-8.
- Broadcast: fuboTV
Who will compete in FIBA 3×3 World Tour Paris?
Six of the world’s top 13 teams and a total of 14 squads: Ub Huishan NE, Liman Huishan NE, Vienna, Princeton, Jeddah, Paris, NY Harlem, Utrecht, Danube, Prebold, Bjelovar, Doha OSC, Athens, and Cacak Huishan NE are among the cities represented.
What exactly are the pools FIBA 3×3 World Tour?
Who are the favorites FIBA 3×3 World Tour?
Some of the strongest 3×3 teams are in this draw, but we must begin at the top, with No.1 seed Ub (SRB). After collecting more cheques than a bank after a dominant first half of the season, they’ve taken a break from the World Tour.
They’ve brought their A-Team to Paris, and their near-perfect chemistry makes you think they’ve been playing together for years.
It will take something exceptional to dethrone them, but No.2 seed and World Tour defending champions Liman (SRB) restored they are winning ways on the World Tour with a victory in Utrecht. You recognize their names because these Serbs are among the finest in the industry, and if they start translating their form from Challengers – where they are on a 25-game winning streak – opponents will be in big danger.
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Another mouth-watering final matchup between Ub and Liman is possible, but the draw is deep and opponents will be keen to knock off the world’s two finest teams. Although the improved Austrians are without high-flyer Filip Kramer, No.3 seed Vienna (AUT) could be their toughest opponent.
But don’t worry, 3×3 great Stefan Stojacic is keen to prove he can compete with his younger brother and current No.1 Strahinja. The former Liman star has led Vienna to a steady season, but they are yearning for their first World Tour victory.
Princeton (USA) is another ambitious team that has recaptured its formidable form from 2019 but has fallen short of going all the way this season. They boast a trio of FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2019 winners as well as new blood, with Isaiah Wilkerson proving to be stronger than a bull in the paint.
We have a few of dark horses if you want them. Actually, labeling them as such is perhaps unjust because hometown heroes Paris (FRA) and Utrecht (NED) have already caused significant damage in their World Tour debuts and are the real deal.
Who are the most talented players in FIBA 3×3 World Tour Paris?
Again, we must begin at the top, and No. 1 Strahinja Stojacic remains king after being the finest player alive in the first half of the season. As he toyed with opponents, this lean and mean superstar made this insanely difficult game look so easy. He leads the team in points, crucial assists, player value, and triple-fives this season. Whatever you want.
We’re sure ‘Doctor Strange’ has been honing his skills, so don’t be surprised if he accomplishes the impossible and advances to the next level.
Liman has their own talents to hurl at Stojacic and his partner-in-crime Dejan Majstorovic, including sniper Stefan Kojic, who won MVP in Utrecht, and big fella Mihailo Vasic, who is a bully ball expert in the paint.
The Americans are well represented, with Princeton’s Kareem Maddox, an OG 3×3 unicorn who can do it all on the half-court, and New York Harlem’s Dominique Jones, who will undoubtedly do something wild.
‘Disco Domo’ is one of the most exciting players we’ve ever seen in 3×3, but he has stiff competition in Paris from newcomers Paul Djoko from Paris and Worthy de Jong from Utrecht, both of whom are making their World Tour debuts.
For one of the most anticipated World Tour events of 2022, the talent in Paris is off the charts.
Players to keep an eye on at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Paris Masters 2022:
PARIS, France – The FIBA 3×3 World Tour is making its first visit to France, with pumped-up 3×3 stars preparing to dazzle at the historic Paris Masters 2022 on October 7-8.
Let’s take a look at a few of the best in Paris.
- Stojacic, Strahinja (Ub Huishan NE)
There was no doubt that a new monarch sat on the 3×3 throne for the first four Masters of the season. Strahinja Stojacic was no longer ‘Doctor Strange,’ thanks to a trio of MVPs and his leadership of an invincible Ub (SRB).
However, since Ub’s winning streak stopped in Debrecen, they’ve been away from the World Tour, leaving Stojacic to watch rivals Thibaut Vervoort and Karlis Lasmanis make their move.
The 30-year-old gets his chance in Paris to remind everyone why he’s No. 1, and he might even run across his elder brother Stefan Stojacic, one of the best to ever do it in 3×3.
Strahinja Stojacic’s comeback to the World Tour is bound to be memorable.
- Stefan Kojic (Liman Huishan NE)
This all-time sniper couldn’t miss in Utrecht when he helped Liman (SRB) to a World Tour 2022 breakthrough title in an MVP performance.
This lethal 30-year-old was back to his magnificent best and stuffed the stats with a mind-blowing performance in the final against Paris, finishing with a triple-five.
Kojic is on a roll, and if he keeps it up, Liman may go back-to-back on the World Tour.
- Princeton’s Kareem Maddox
This season, new stars have risen from the red, white, and blue, but big man Kareem Maddox remains the USA’s top-ranked player.
The 6ft. 8in (2.04m) athletic beast hasn’t lost any of his spring, and he’s still a force at the rim. And he’s been putting in additional effort in 2022 to end Princeton’s three-year World Tour drought.
- Djoko, Paul (France)
France’s latest wonder is going to light up Paris, and he is the most anticipated player in the season’s ninth Masters.
Djoko was the ultimate show-stopper in his stunning World Tour debut in Utrecht, despite being only 24 and new to the pro circuit.
Djoko is a human highlight reel, capable of dunks, dimes, and outrageous shots in practically every other possession. He’ll be the ultimate fan favorite in front of a raucous home crowd, especially if Djoko makes the half-court his personal playground.
- Dominique Jones (Harlem, New York)
There are new kids on the block, but Dominique Jones, dubbed ‘Disco Domo,’ remains the ultimate performer. His dance shoes were created for the half-court, and he’s out to delight the crowd in Paris, where he’ll win a slew of new fans.
‘Disco Domo’ continues to deceive opponents, as he demonstrated recently at the Penang Challenger, where he defeated Saitama ALPHAS with an amazing 17-point scoring frenzy, a rare achievement in the first-to-21 game.
When ‘Disco Domo’ is in the mood, not even the illuminated Eiffel Tower is a more beautiful sight.
- De Jong is deserving (Utrecht)
It was well worth the wait to see this flying Dutchman take over downtown Utrecht. Worthy de Jong is all in on 3×3, and his World Tour debut demonstrated why he is so well suited to the 10-minute race.
He’s lean and aggressive, and he’s fearless of a larger defender in his path to the basket. The Utrecht star is out to humiliate opponents, and you can bet he will because he is simply unguardable.
- Dragovic, Bogdan (Danube)
Bogdan Dragovic’s legacy is guaranteed no matter what happens afterward. After all, this Serb sniper scored probably the most clutch shot of all time to propel underdog Zemun to victory in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Bloomage Beijing Final 2017.
The 6ft. 5in (1.95m) sniper still breathes fire like a House of the Dragon character and can heat up faster than instant noodles.
If that happens, Dragovic will have yet another bizarre memory to add to his collection.
