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In this week’s edition of Learning the Venture, we’re going to take a look at how basketball is growing (that’s right, growing), and what that means for the one of the world’s most popular sports.

There are a lot of cool projects happening in basketball right now, from the evolution of 3×3 both by FIBA and in the Olympics, the launch of the new DUNKMAN league (you can guess what that one is about), and the NBA’s planned expansion into Europe.

All of this is incredibly exciting for hoop fans, so let’s get stuck in!

Personally, I fell in love with 3×3 basketball during the 2024 Olympics. For me that was basketball in one of its purest forms. No hunting for the three-ball, no rest on defence, just quick tempo and trading buckets.

While 3×3 basketball was originally added to the Olympic program in 2017, the first iteration of the event took place in the 2020 Tokyo Games. However, it was during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where the 3×3 really took off.

According to Insider Sport, over 4,000 spectators attended the 3×3 games during the Olympics. This in-person viewership was reciprocated through TV and online viewing, as a total of 7.4 million people watched the women’s gold medal game between Spain and Germany. Insane!

The Olympics is only the cherry on top, the entire ecosystem of 3×3 is what’s really moving the needle for me.

A 3×3 team is comprised of four players (3 on court, 1 sub), so finding/developing four skilled, competitive players is much easier and far less taxing for countries with smaller populations, pushing to build a team of twelve for traditional 5×5 basketball.

Given the already small-sided nature of 5×5 basketball - one player can impact a game individually more so than in other team sports (such as football) - all players are required to have relatively the same baseline ability as each other. This is evident in the modern game (typically the NBA), where basketball is positionless, with all five players on the court being able to dribble, pass, and shoot to some extent.

This is taken even further in 3×3, where playing in a half-court setting requires each player to have a higher degree of baseline ability compared to 5×5. Put this into a training environment, and this leads to more efficient exposure to skill development, as each player receives more meaningful touches of the basketball.

Additionally, only requiring a half-court for 3×3 is immense for countries with less resources, i.e. gyms, coaches, etc. The half-court setting allows for more matches to be played at one time, and more importantly blends with urban availability as well, promoting 3×3 in community centres and on street courts.

Basketball is already a pretty cool sport (being an ex-national team player makes me a little bit biased), but 3×3 really ups the ante.

3×3 really brings basketball back to its roots - 1v1 situations, everyone on the court being able to impact the game, and a focus on skill rather than an overreliance on athleticism.

Culturally, I think it promotes far more inclusivity than 5×5 currently does. Every basketball court is already equipped to host two 3×3 games at any given time. This is great for any country, regardless of available resources or population size.

Basketball has always been a sport on the lower end of the cost-to-entry scale. All you need is a ball and a hoop. For traditional 5×5 you need ten individuals. Now for 3×3, you only need six. That’s huge for kids just trying to get some games in on the weekends, during lunch break, etc. The formalization of 3×3 as a legitimate form of basketball reinforces that idea.

For a long time, turning professional in basketball meant playing NCAA Division I and entering the NBA draft. If that didn’t work out, you go to Europe.

3×3 is slowly but surely adding another avenue for athletes to play professional basketball.

On the international stage, 3×3 gives those countries who don’t have a chance at competing in 5×5, the chance to do so via 3×3. This only helps FIBA’s push to position basketball as the world’s #1 sport.

🏀 Learn more about how nations qualify for the various 3×3 competitions here.

Well, it’s about time!

I for one am buzzing for this one - a basketball league that’s just dunking, that is all.

Basketball culture, at its core, is cool. Simple as that. A massive contributing factor to building that culture, in my opinion, is due to handles (breaking ankles and the like) and dunking.

These are what become highlights and what every kid growing up dreams of being able to pull off at some point. Yes, the game has moved further and further away from the rim with the popularization of shooting (thanks Steph). But anyone who has ever played basketball would be lying if they said they never wanted to dunk.

Enter DUNKMAN.

The league follows the success fo the Dunkman TV sereies which aired last year, over 6 episodes. Founded by Shaquille O’Neal, the league will look to capitalize on the show’s popularity (www.independent.co.uk).

Partnering with TNT Sports, the league will take place over five live events, which includes four group stages, concluding in a title event. The league is made up of 24 dunkers from all over the world, with the champion winning $500,000 (www.independent.co.uk).

The 2026 season started with the group stage on July 21st, with the World Championship scheduled for August 25th, taking place at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

I’ve seen a few of the opening group stage match-ups, and it’s been so exciting. Highly encourage you to follow along! You can watch on YouTube TV, HBO Max, TNT, or TBS.

🏀 Check out the DUNKMAN results and upcoming schedule here

As I mentioned above, DUNKMAN is cool. The concept is cool. It’s easy and simple enough where fans will tune in to see cool dunks.

Did I say it was cool?

Sport is not complicated, and DUNKMAN perfectly encapsulates that, more so than 3×3.

What gives this added strength, is some of the names competing, more notably Mac McClung. Anyone who follows the NBA will know his story. Two-time NBA Dunk Contest champion, played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, and then made his way back to the G-League.

Not good enough for a consistent spot on an NBA roster, but an amazing dunker, probably the best in the NBA (whether he is on a roster or not).

As sports fans begin to follow athletes more closely and loyally than a team, having a name like Mac McClung is huge for early visibility. Massive for a new league just getting started.

The growth of basketball as a global sport is amazing to see for all hoops fans. What makes the FIBA 3×3 and DUNKMAN movements so positive in the game however, is the simplicity.

These aren’t complicated schemes designed to attract as many viewers and sponsors as possible. This is taking the game down to its purest forms and letting the athletes and the sport do the heavy lifting.

Sporting development like this leads to investment in youth, increased participation, and discovering new audiences. All are crucial to the overall expansion of a sport.

What is great to see here with these two examples, is that both are pulling in the same direction, without compromising each other or competing with existing entities.

It’s been an awesome summer for basketball, almost makes you forget the NBA starts in just under two months…

Thanks for reading, check you later ✌️