There was a time when 3-on-3 basketball was reserved for backyard courts and local playgrounds.
Not anymore.
This frenetically paced game has evolved to the point that it will make its debut at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
And it might not stop there.
"I think it will be an NCAA sport in two years," Point Park University men's basketball coach Joe Lewandowski said. "There's going to be a big push for it."
Lewandowski would know. He is fresh off leading Team USA to a gold medal at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Amsterdam from June 18-23. He's led the U.S. men and women to a combined three World Cup gold medals in his seven years with USA Basketball.
His current team, led by former Purdue All-American and NBA alum Robbie Hummel, went 7-0 with notable victories against 3x3 super team Serbia (which had never lost at the World Cup since the tourney's inception in 2015) and Latvia in the championship game.
Team USA earned one of three automatic bids to the Olympic qualifying tournament next spring. The top eight finishers will advance to the 2020 Summer Games.
"Humbling," Lewandowski said of the World Cup title. "We've been grinding for a long time while competing on this stage. And with the added pressure of an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics, this was awesome."
The 3-on-3 Olympic qualifying competition will follow current FIBA rules. Games are played on a half court with a 12-second shot clock. Scoring inside the 3-point arc counts for one point and scoring beyond the arc counts for two. The first team to 21, or whoever is leading at the end of the 10-minute game, is the winner. Each team features four players.
With the use of a 12-second shot clock, games move at breakneck speeds, with six players feverishly attacking, defending and launching shots.
"Basketball on steroids," said Lewandowski, who went 9-18 in his first season at Point Park. "I hate to use that term, but that's what it is. It's the most fun basketball you'll ever watch. It's fast-paced, no time to rest. This isn't your father's 3-on-3 where you score a basket and check it up. The ball goes through the net and then you get 12 seconds to put it back up.
“It's like hockey. People who don't know the sport will ask: 'Why does Sidney Crosby play only 17 minutes a game?' The answer is, because it's exhausting. These players are going all out on ever play. That's the same with 3-on-3. On every dead ball, you're subbing someone in. If not, you couldn't survive. You couldn't compete."
After a stellar collegiate playing career at Butler Community College and Slippery Rock University, Lewandowski, a native of Cleveland, found 3-on-3 basketball while playing professionally overseas. He competed in 3x3 events for 10 years.
He went on to coach at the AAU level, leading a pair of teams to national titles, and founded an instructional program for high school and youth coaches. He was a high school head coach at Butler and Deer Lakes. There was also a stint with former NBA player and coach John Lucas. While there, Lewandowski prepared high school stars for the college game, including future NBA players Justise Winslow, Thon Maker and Khris Middleton.
He got his break with USA Basketball in 2012 — and was a natural to lead the 3x3 program.
Lewandowski has guided the U.S. women to two World Cup gold medals and a bronze. He's led the men to a gold and a silver. He's also guided the U18 women's team to a silver medal.
Though he is a prime candidate to coach the U.S. at the Olympics (provided it qualifies), there are no guarantees. USA basketball makes the final decision.
Currently, neither NBA coaches nor players participate in 3x3, but that could potentially change in an Olympic year.
"It will be interesting to see how it all plays out," Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski's gold-medal team consisted of Hummel, Canyon Barry (Florida alum and son of NBA legend Rick Barry) and former Ivy Leaguers Kareem Maddox of Princeton and Damon Huffman of Brown. He spent countless hours on scouting reports, poring over film and installing game plans.
Yes, game plans. Contrary to perception, 3x3 basketball is much more than an improvisational free-for-all. At the World Cup, Lewandowski implemented a defensive game plan that enabled Team USA to hold opponents to 32 percent shooting overall, 16 percent from beyond the arc. Meantime, Team USA's conversion rate was 50 and 37 percent, respectively.
"It takes a lot of strategizing, it's a tactical game," said Lewandowski, who, like all 3x3 coaches, is not permitted on the floor for games. "People say that the basketball I.Q. of players has gone way down these days, but I can tell you this: The guys and girls who play this sport have I.Q.'s that are off the charts. They learn how to make great basketball decisions. They think quickly. They can't make mistakes. As you can tell, I'm a big proponent of 3-on-3."
And, a gold medal-winning coach. Again.
First Published: July 4, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
