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I still remember watching the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017 with my colleagues at the sports analytics firm where I worked, and what struck me most wasn't just the final scores but the incredible display of teamwork throughout the tournament. That quote from one of the players—"That's definitely what I would take from him: working hard and helping out my team in any way I possibly can"—perfectly captures the spirit we witnessed during those intense days in Nantes, France. Having analyzed countless basketball tournaments over my career, I can confidently say this particular event stood out for how teams embodied this philosophy, especially when you examine the final standings and how they were achieved.
The tournament ran from June 17-21 at the Place de la Petite Hollande, featuring 20 teams in both men's and women's categories battling through group stages and knockout rounds. What made this World Cup special was how smaller basketball nations competed with such heart against traditional powerhouses. Serbia's men's team, for instance, demonstrated absolute dominance by going undefeated throughout the entire tournament, finishing with a perfect 7-0 record and claiming their third World Cup title. I've always admired how Serbian teams approach 3x3 basketball—they play with this unique combination of raw physicality and sophisticated court awareness that's just mesmerizing to watch. Their gold medal victory over the Netherlands in the final was a masterclass in tactical execution, winning 21-18 in what turned out to be one of the most technically proficient games I've seen in years.
On the women's side, Russia claimed gold by defeating Hungary 16-12 in a final that showcased completely different strengths. The Russian women's team displayed what I consider textbook fundamental basketball—precise shooting, impeccable positioning, and this remarkable ability to control the game's tempo. Having worked with several European coaches, I've come to appreciate how Russian basketball programs emphasize these core skills from youth levels upward, and it showed in their consistent performance throughout the tournament. What many casual viewers might not realize is how physically demanding 3x3 basketball actually is—the constant movement, rapid transitions, and condensed court space require athletes to be in peak condition, which all these top teams clearly were.
The complete final standings tell such an interesting story beyond just who won medals. In the men's division, Slovenia took bronze by defeating Poland 18-12, while the women's bronze went to Ukraine who beat the Netherlands 17-11. What fascinates me about these results is how they reflect the global growth of basketball—we had teams from four different continents reaching the semifinals, which speaks volumes about how widely the sport has developed. I particularly enjoyed watching the Netherlands' surprising run to the final; they weren't necessarily the most talented team on paper, but their cohesion and that "helping out my team in any way I possibly can" mentality we heard about carried them further than anyone expected.
Looking at the broader standings, France finishing 7th in men's and 5th in women's might seem disappointing for the host nation, but having attended the event personally, I can tell you their performances were much stronger than those numbers suggest. They lost several incredibly close games that could have gone either way—the margin between finishing in the top four versus middle of the pack is often just one or two possessions in 3x3 basketball. This is what makes the format so exciting from a spectator's perspective, though it can be brutal for the teams involved.
The player statistics from this tournament remain some of the most impressive I've recorded in my database. Serbia's Dušan Domović Bulut, who's basically the Michael Jordan of 3x3 basketball, scored what I believe was 46 points throughout the tournament while consistently drawing double teams that created opportunities for his teammates. That unselfish playstyle perfectly embodies that quote about helping the team in any way possible. On the women's side, Russia's Alexandra Stolyar led all scorers with approximately 38 points if my memory serves correctly, but what stood out to me was her efficiency—she rarely forced shots, always taking what the defense gave her.
Reflecting on this tournament several years later, what stays with me isn't just the final results but how they were achieved. The teams that succeeded weren't necessarily the ones with the most individual talent, but rather those who best embodied that team-first mentality. In my professional opinion, this is what separates good 3x3 teams from great ones—the willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed, whether that means taking a charge, setting a perfect screen, or making the extra pass instead of forcing a difficult shot. The 2017 FIBA 3x3 World Cup standings ultimately tell a story about basketball's global expansion and how collective effort continues to triumph over individual brilliance in this beautifully condensed version of the game we love.