NBA Launches 3x3 Tournaments in India

If you’ve been following closely, you would have seen that FIBA – the international governing body of basketball – has been heavily promoting the 3-on-3 format of basketball for the past several years. International 3×3 tournaments – on the continental and the world stage – have already been launched across the world, and there is even talk of including 3×3 basketball in the 2016 Olympics. It is an easy format of the game to fall in love with – most casual pick-up games across the world played on a halfcourt already follow many of FIBA’s set 3×3 rules, the action is quick, the games are short, and the smaller format has allowed FIBA to involve many more countries/teams in their competitions.

Now, it seems that the NBA is getting itself involved in the action as well. The NBA has announced 3×3 tournaments in four regions across India – Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai – in the U18 and the over-18 section. The winners of the tournaments will get a chance to play in the National Championship in India, and the Indian National Champions will get an opportunity to represent the country at the 2013 FIBA/NBA Asia 3×3 event. The winners will also get a chance to win a trip to the 2013 NBA All Star Weekend in Houston!

The action begins on September 15th in Noida in the Delhi NCR region.

Registration for the tournament in the four cities has already begun. Each team can register four players – three starters and one substitute. The games will be just 10 minutes long, with a scoring limit of 21 (i.e. the first to 21 wins regardless of the time left). The shot clock for each possession is set for just 12 seconds, so you have to act fast!

Schedule

Delhi NCR: September 15-16
Hyderabad: September 22-23
Chennai: October 13-14
Mumbai: October 20-21

The NBA is bringing out a few famous names in each town for this. Already, seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry has been announced as the NBA Legend to make an appearance in the Delhi NCR tournament. Entertainers like Hard Kaur, Anushka Manchanda, DJ Nikhil, DJ Pearl, and the Golden State Warriors cheerleaders have also been booked for the events across India. More NBA appearances for Hyderabad, Chennai, or Mumbai could be confirmed in the coming days.

So what are you waiting for? If you’re lucky enough to be in or near one of those cities, sign your team up and join the 3×3 competition. And if your squad is good enough, you could be representing India against other good Asian squads, and you could find yourself experiencing one of basketball’s biggest annual extravaganzas: the NBA All Star Weekend!