17 Jun 2017
NANTES (FIBA 3x3 World Cup) These 10 players will wanna make you watch the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Nantes, France on June 17-21.
Dusan Domovic Bulut (SRB)
• 31 years old
• 1,91m
• World Rank: 1
'Mr Bullutproof' was the MVP of the last World Cup has been dominating the world ranking for the last 2 years, with some clutch shots and a lot of flair.
Jesper Jobse (NED)
• 32 years old
• 2,04m
• World Rank: 39
Lefty Jesper Jobse is also known as 'The Job' and boy did he get the job done when he earned 'Team of the Tournament' accolades and led the Netherlands to a historic bronze medal at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup last year.
Wil Martinez (PUR)
• 24 years old
• 1,93m
• Rank: 104
On his first-ever international tournament last year in Mexico, Martinez hit 2 of the most unbelievable game-winners of the season. The kid's got more ice in his veins than the North Pole.
Dan Mavraides (USA)
• 28 years old
• 1,94m
• Rank: 734
He went to Princeton, got the biggest pecs in the tournament and his family originally comes from Sparta. We thought you should know in case you see an all-female audience in the bleachers for the next 5 days.
Gasper Ovnik (SLO)
• 34 years old
• 1,90m
• Rank: 14
The MVP of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2016 also invited himself to the 'Team of the Tournament' at the World Cup last year. The veteran can shoot right between your eyes and has amazing basketball IQ and he's got moves like Jade Chynoweth.
Rivaldo Pangesthio (INA)
• 21 years old
• Height: 1,90m
• Rank: 387
This Rivaldo is even smoother than the homonymous Brazilian football player. After shining at the Youth Olympic Games in 2014, he's now teaming up with Indonesian legend Fandi Andika Ramadhani, with an eye on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Kobe Paras (PHI)
• 19 years old
• 1,98m
• Rank: N/A
At 19, the other Kobe is already a superstar in his native Philippines. He's won two gold medals at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup before (at the dunk contest) and is now ready for the big boys.
Szymon Rduch (POL)
• 27 years old
• 1,99m
• World Rank: 85
The talented Rduch made a name for himself when he became the MVP of the World Tour Prague Masters 2 years ago. He can do it all on the court and has 2 advantages: 1. he plays together with his bigger brother Przemyslaw 2. he plays together with his bigger brother Przemyslaw who's 2,08m tall and sets the biggest screens in the 3x3 game.
Abdulrahman Mohamed Saad (QAT)
• 20 years old
• Height: 1,90m
• Rank: 147
Qatar might have lost their crown at the World Cup last year but Saad absolutely put the world on notice with some fancy dribbling and the hardest drives to the basket. He's just a solid jumpshot away from being one of the best players on the 3x3 scene.
Angelo Tsagarakis (FRA)
• 32 years old
• 1,90m
• Rank: 166
The man also known as 'The Tsar' might be the hungriest player at the event after missing out on the 2012 World Cup due to injury. Don't leave the man open or he'll punish you from long range. He's got handles and can throw a nasty lob pass. You'll see him on the Top 5.
FIBA