• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 31, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

3BALL USA Gets the Ball Rolling With 3X3 Basketball Showcase

3Ball

Window shopping… and slam dunks?

Thanks to a new initiative that is beginning to capture the attention of hoops fans around the country, that unlikely pairing was made possible. 3BALL USA, a “well-established team organizer in Olympics rules 3×3 basketball,” hosted its first big tournament showcase earlier this summer — at a mall.

Held at SIMON’s Great Mall (Silicon Valley) in Milpitas, Calif., the entire event speaks to what the league is all about: disruption, change, and continued innovation. Making sure those words become synonymous with the 3Ball USA basketball brand will be essential for the new league’s business development plans and, ultimately, future success. 

[mc4wp_form id=”8260″]

“It’s the fastest, most intense basketball you have ever seen. We all love faster. We all love more intense. And these games are shorter too, which injects them with a sense of urgency and makes the content a lot easier to consume as well,” league founder and CEO Michael Wranovics stated when discussing how the league can provide a compelling product that appeals to the next generation of sports fans.

Based on the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 rules — the kind of basketball that’s actually going to be played at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo — 3BALL USA is aiming to launch its full-fledged league in 2019, which will entail three-day tournaments held in popular locations in a league format all summer long. 

https://twitter.com/ShopGreatMall/status/1032009490030317569

The short nature of the games — which are capped at either 10 minutes or first to 21 points (whichever happens first) — lends itself to the shortened attention spans of sports fans today. The 3×3 style of play featured in 3BALL will create much more of that bite-sized content that brands are chasing on platforms today.

In addition, the 3BALL league is built to be far more than just a collection of games and tournaments. The league and its games are going to be designed more as events and experiences than just simple, singular competitions.

“I don’t see us going into traditional arenas. This is more like the AVP Tour. A lively, colorful event that adds fun and youthful energy,” Wranovics explained. “It’s about much more than the game itself. We’re going to create a festival atmosphere with VR 360 activations, selfie walls, food trucks, beer gardens, and high energy music.”

That’s what the 3BALL USA Showcase at SIMON’s Great Mall was built as. The event on August 17-19th included the music and food trucks Wranovics spoke about, as well as a stunt dog shows, “high-flying slam dunk contest,” and one-on-one challenge against streetball icon The Professor. With plans to design its entire league similarly, 3BALL is all about “wall-to-wall entertainment.”

Expect to see 3BALL USA’s first full season to tip off in 2019 at similar pop-up venues around the nation, which will present Wranovics and the league with their next big challenge: gaining a foothold in a crowded sports entertainment landscape and establishing distribution channels.

[mc4wp_form id=”8260″]

Wranovics noted the games during this particular showcase event were live streamed on Twitch and had nearly 500,000 views during the weekend, and were also live streamed on the No. 1 digital sports platform in China, Sina Sports.

We’ll find out soon if 3BALL USA can give the popular 3×3 format an even bigger name during its lead-up to the 2020 Olympic Games.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
Dallas Wings

WNBA Teams Desperate to Expand Rosters Amid ‘Extreme Hardship’ 

The Wings are scrambling to field eight players Friday night.
Candace Parker

Candace Parker Not a WNBA Owner Yet, but Her Business Is Booming

Her WNBA peers say she made the blueprint for earning off the court.

Who Are the Richest MLB Owners?

MLB owners are among the wealthiest people in the U.S.

Featured Today

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.

UFC’s Vegas Sphere Fight Should Set Records

The MMA fight has big aspirations and a budget to match.
August 13, 2024

Duael’s One-On-One Racing Brackets Are Yet Another Stab at Saving Track

Duael will debut in March 2025 with the inaugural Duael 100.
September 8, 2024

Guardian Caps Make NFL Debut

Multiple NFL players wore Guardian Caps over their helmets Sunday.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
August 11, 2024

Guardian Caps Have Arrived in the NFL—Ahead of Schedule

Colts star Jonathan Taylor strapped one on for Sunday’s preseason game.
August 5, 2024

How Omega Timing Determined Noah Lyles Won Olympic Gold

Omega touches every corner of the Olympics.
The Adidas ball has changed over the years.
July 25, 2023

The Most Advanced Tech at the Women’s World Cup Might Surprise You

This year’s OCEAUNZ introduces connected ball technology to the women’s game.
Sponsored

Rewriting the Sports Media Playbook

WSC’s highlight automation improved Clemson’s content strategy and overall growth.