On Monday, Team USA’s men’s 3×3 team was soundly beaten by the Netherlands in the pool round and eliminated from medal contention. They went just 2-5 in the Paris Olympics.
With a team headlined by Jimmer Fredette, of BYU fame, this wasn’t the result that was expected. After all, he was the 2023 USA Basketball 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year. In fact, he was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Team USA teammate Canyon Barry, the son of Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry, was the 2022 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup MVP. 34-year-old Kareem Maddox is a two-time FIBA 3×3 World Cup Tournament MVP. Dylan Travis made his 3×3 debut in the 2022 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup.
Pros Take USA 3×3 Team To Task
As it turned out, Team USA struggled to defend and connect from beyond the arc. On top of that, their team captain (Fredette) exited Lille with a torn adductor. If Barry hadn’t scored 30 combined points against France and China on what was a hot day for the 30-year-old, they may have left the Olympics winless.
Jimmer Fredette on IG: “I’m sorry to all the fans who supported me and our team as I wish it could have gone differently.” pic.twitter.com/IlWbv4ymIK
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 4, 2024
Alas, Monday’s loss was actually a merciful end for a team that clearly wasn’t up to the task.
Unfortunately, at least for Fredette, Barry, Maddox, and Travis, there’s now a general sentiment that the U.S. didn’t send the best team that they could to the Olympics. BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube offered a challenge to the U.S. Olympic team, betting that the BIG3 All-Stars could defeat them. In response, Jeff Teague told his Club 520 Podcast co-hosts that Team USA “would have had some more talent in there…”
Jeff Teague: “Joe, Beasley, Jordan Crawford. We woulda killed them. I coulda been a sub.”
Club 520 Podcast | @wellssssssssss pic.twitter.com/4MsU8W3aNU https://t.co/xmurNJyMNk
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 5, 2024
“Yeah, if you would’ve got Joe (Johnson), (Michael Beasley), Jordan Crawford, we would’ve killed them,” Teague continues. “It would have been lit bro. I could’ve been a sub. We would’ve won a gold medal”
Teague, a former NBA guard, made his BIG3 debut as the captain of the 3 Headed Monsters last season.
Getting into the merits of the discussion, Beasley and Johnson are considered two of the best isolation scorers in the game.
Michael Beasley almost outscored the entire opposing team. He had 17 in the win and the Enemies had 23. pic.twitter.com/4CvHMUBIsA
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 4, 2024
Johnson excelled in one-one-one situations even in the NBA, as did Crawford. There’s a question of whether the 43-year-old Johnson would’ve been able to play the grueling pace. However, there’s no doubt that Teague and Co. would’ve been more skilled quartet.
What About Current NBA Players?
Interestingly, there isn’t a call for Team USA to train current NBA players for 3×3 tournaments. Perhaps it could happen, as there are often players who feel snubbed by the USA Basketball selection committee. Just imagine if Paul George, Kyrie Irving, and Jaylen Brown were on the 3×3 roster. Whether their teammate was Fredette or Mike James, the EuroLeague’s all-time leading scorer, they may have dominated.
I definitely woulda have suited up 3on3 for the Olympics if given the opportunity. Idk if I’m qualified to play or even in the list of a possibility but just saying i would play lol
— Mike James (@TheNatural_05) August 5, 2024
Of course, the 3×3 game is different than the style played in the NBA. The court and ball are smaller. There are only three total timeouts and two of them are technical.
Nonetheless, their talent level suggests they would’ve had much more success than Fredette, Barry, Maddox, and Travis.
