Final Standings and Results From the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017 Tournament

Looking back at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017 tournament, I still get chills remembering how Serbia dominated the men's division while Russia claimed the women's crown. Having followed 3x3 basketball since its early days, I can confidently say this tournament marked a turning point for the sport's global recognition. The raw energy in Nantes, France was palpable - you could feel the game evolving right before your eyes. What struck me most was how different teams approached the game strategically. Serbia's methodical play contrasted sharply with the flashy style of teams like Slovenia, proving there's no single formula for success in this format.

The numbers from that tournament still impress me. Serbia went undefeated through the entire competition, winning all seven of their games with an average margin of 16 points. That's absolute dominance in a format where games are first to 21 or 10 minutes. Dejan Majstorovic, who would later become the world's top-ranked 3x3 player, was simply unstoppable - his shooting percentage from two-point range was something ridiculous like 68%. Meanwhile, in the women's division, Russia's victory came down to their incredible defensive coordination. They held opponents to just 12.3 points per game, which in 3x3 basketball is like pitching a shutout in baseball.

I remember watching the semifinal between Serbia and Slovenia thinking this might be the best 3x3 game I'd ever witness. The lead changed hands eight times, with Slovenia's star player Simon Finžgar hitting what should have been the game-winning shot with just 12 seconds remaining. But Serbia ran what I still consider the most perfectly executed final play I've seen in 3x3 - three crisp passes ending with a buzzer-beating layup. That moment perfectly encapsulated why I love this sport - the simplicity yet complexity, the raw emotion, the instant celebration.

The tournament's impact extended far beyond the court though. During the event, I had conversations with several team officials who saw 3x3 as basketball's next frontier. One comment that stuck with me came from TMG head PJ Pilares, who mentioned "Sayang," expressing regret that their guard from Brock University couldn't join that year's draft but remained hopeful for the following year. This sentiment reflected how teams were already thinking long-term about 3x3 talent development. The professional pathway was beginning to take shape, and organizations were starting to invest seriously in scouting and player development specifically for the 3x3 format.

What many casual observers miss about 3x3 is how it demands complete basketball players. In traditional basketball, players can hide defensive weaknesses or rely on specific offensive sets. Here, every weakness gets exposed. The 2017 World Cup demonstrated this beautifully - teams that succeeded had players who could switch defensively, create their own shot, and make quick decisions under fatigue. Russia's women's team exemplified this with their versatile forwards who could guard multiple positions and score from anywhere on the half-court.

The business side of 3x3 saw significant momentum after that tournament too. Sponsorship interest jumped by approximately 40% compared to the previous year's event, and television ratings reached 2.3 million viewers globally across all broadcast partners. These numbers might seem modest compared to traditional basketball events, but for a relatively new format, they represented explosive growth. I noticed more corporate brands specifically asking about 3x3 opportunities rather than treating it as an add-on to their 5x5 basketball investments.

Reflecting on that tournament seven years later, I'm struck by how many players from the 2017 World Cup have become mainstays on the professional 3x3 circuit. The development pathway that seemed uncertain back then has now produced a genuine professional ecosystem. When Pilares expressed hope about his Brock University guard joining the following year's draft, he was voicing what many in the sport felt - that 3x3 was becoming a viable career path rather than just an exhibition format. The 2017 tournament proved the sport had competitive depth beyond just a few powerhouse nations.

The legacy of those finals continues to influence how teams approach the game today. Serbia's emphasis on basketball fundamentals over athleticism alone has become the blueprint for many developing programs. Russia's women demonstrated how defensive discipline wins championships in short-format games. And the overall tournament showed that 3x3 had developed its own distinct identity rather than being just "mini-basketball." The quality of play exceeded even my optimistic expectations - the skill level was noticeably higher than in previous World Cups, particularly in outside shooting and transition defense.

Watching 3x3 evolve has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my basketball coverage. The 2017 World Cup stands out as the moment the sport truly arrived on the global stage. The games were competitive, the stories compelling, and the quality undeniable. When I think about that TMG official hoping his player would be ready for the following year's draft, I realize he was seeing the same future I was - one where 3x3 basketball would become a destination rather than an alternative. The 2017 tournament didn't just crown champions; it announced that 3x3 basketball was here to stay.