DEBRECEN (Hungary) – The FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 heads to Debrecen on August 29-30, bringing together some of the biggest names on the circuit and several players arriving with plenty to prove and looking for breakthrough results.

From the standard-setting Strahinja Stojacic to recent Challenger winners James Parrott and Fabian Giessmann, there will be no shortage of players capable of taking over a game. Here are eight players to keep an eye on in Debrecen.

Strahinja Stojacic (Ub)

Doctor Strange remains the benchmark. Stojacic continues to lead all World Tour players in overall player value, and his form has been impossible to overlook. The Serbian recently helped Ub (SRB) claim wins at the Bordeaux Challenger and Antwerp Quest, adding to a season in which the world’s No. 1 team has already collected two World Tour stop wins. With another title in their sights, expect Stojacic to once again be at the center of everything Ub does in Debrecen.

Debrecen also holds a special place for Stojacic, as this is where he made his 3×3 basketball debut back in 2018.

James Parrott (Miami)

Parrott arrives in Hungary fresh from helping Miami (USA) win the FISE Birmingham Challenger, giving the American team another boost heading into their latest World Tour appearance. One of the most exciting players to watch on the circuit, Parrott has the ability to change the game in an instant with his scoring and creativity. Miami already have one World Tour stop win this season and will be looking to double that tally in Debrecen.

Dorde Simeunovic (Liman)

Few big men on the World Tour bring the combination of size, mobility and skill that Simeunovic does. The Liman (SRB) forward has established himself as one of the circuit’s most dynamic scoring threats and will be central to their hopes in Debrecen. Liman will be looking for a response after finishing fifth at the Bordeaux Challenger and ninth at World Tour Lausanne, making Simeunovic one of the players to watch as they look to get back into the mix.

Worthy de Jong (Amsterdam RABOBANK)

There are few players who bring as much experience and personality to a World Tour court as de Jong, and the Dutch veteran has continued to deliver for Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) despire some injury setbacks. He led Amsterdam to the World Tour Vienna title and has also helped them to podium finishes at World Tour Amsterdam, the Singapore Challenger and the Beijing Challenger. With fans likely to embrace one of the circuit’s most recognizable names, de Jong should be among the players attracting plenty of attention in Debrecen.

Evaldas Džiaugys (Raudondvaris Hoptrans)

Džiaugys has been a major part of Raudondvaris Hoptrans‘ (LTU) strong recent run, leading the Lithuanian side to a runner-up finish at World Tour Lausanne before another fifth-place finish at the Beijing Challenger. That said, Raudondvaris are still searching for their first World Tour stop win of the season. Of course, Džiaugys will be one of the key pieces in their bid to finally get over the line in Debrecen.

Nauris Miezis (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy)

Miezis came agonizingly close to a World Tour title in WT Ulaanbaatar, and he will get another opportunity to help Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) make that breakthrough in Debrecen. This will be Miezis’ third World Tour stop appearance of the season after missing Lausanne, and his experience and scoring ability could prove crucial for a team still chasing its first World Tour victory of 2026.

Fabian Giessmann (Baskets Bonn)

Giessmann and Baskets Bonn (GER) have been one of the teams to beat in recent weeks. They are coming off a World Tour Lausanne victory and followed that up with another title at the Beijing Challenger. Giessmann has also established his place among the top five World Tour players this season in overall player value, underlining just how important he has been to Bonn’s success. Another strong showing in Debrecen could put the German side in position to claim their third World Tour stop win of the year.

Cameron Forte (Shanghai)

Forte has been knocking on the door of a major breakthrough all season. He has led Shanghai to the Semi-Finals at each of his last three Challenger appearances in Hanchuan, Uenohara and Beijing. His most recent performance in Beijing was particularly eye-catching, as Forte led the entire field in both total points and overall player value while recording multiple double-fives and even a triple-five game. Shanghai are still searching for their first World Tour stop win of the season, though. If Forte can reproduce that kind of production in Debrecen, they could be a serious threat to make a run at it.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official Women’s Series website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

BANGKOK (Thailand) – The FIBA 3×3 Sponsor | Red Bull Champions Cup 2026 delivered a strong all-around performance across digital, broadcast and on-site engagement, further reinforcing the global momentum of 3×3 basketball.

Held at centralwOrld Square, the second edition of the Champions Cup combined elite competition with growing global visibility, both on and off the court.

Record growth across owned digital platforms

The event recorded strong growth across all key digital metrics, reflecting increasing global interest in the discipline.

The Champions Cup generated 59.8 million impressions, up from 37.4 million in 2025 (+60%), marking a significant increase in overall reach.

Total views also surged to 48 million, compared to 26.6 million in the previous edition (+80%), while engagement reached 1.3 million, up from 1.1 million last year (+18%).

Social media continued to play a central role in driving performance, with Facebook accounting for 41% of total engagement, compared to 29% in 2025.

These figures highlight the continued effectiveness of 3×3 basketball’s fast-paced, highlight-driven content in connecting with global audiences.

Extensive global broadcast coverage across key markets

The FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup 2026 was broadcast globally through a wide network of partners, ensuring strong international visibility for the event.

Coverage included:

1. Olympic Channel

2. TRT (Turkey)

3. TV Madagascar

4. TVP (Poland)

5. beIN Sports (USA)

6. RTS (Serbia)

7. Shinai Sports (China)

8. Unbeaten (USA)

9. OKKO (Russia)

10. CBC (Canada)

11. Arena Sports TV (Serbia)

In addition, the event received extensive coverage from major media outlets in Thailand, further strengthening its local footprint and visibility:

Major national media:

1. Thairath

2. Channel 3

3. Channel 7 (BBTV)

4. ThaiPBS

5. MCOT

Major digital and specialty platforms:

1. Khaosod

2. PPTVHD36

3. MainStand

4. T Sports 7

This combination of global broadcast partners and strong local media presence reflects the growing demand for 3×3 basketball content across both international and domestic markets.

Beyond digital and media performance, the event delivered a strong on-site footprint in Bangkok, with full attendance across all three days at centralwOrld.

In total, more than 19,300 fans attended the event, representing 45 different nationalities, highlighting the global appeal of 3×3 basketball and its ability to bring together diverse audiences in a shared urban setting.

The tournament also welcomed a number of distinguished guests and key stakeholders from across sport, media and business, including:

• Mr. Pimol Srivikorn, President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand

• Mr. Nipon Chavalitmontien, President of the Basketball Sport Association of Thailand

• Mr. Brian L. Marcar, Managing Director of Tero Entertainment Public Company Limited

• Mr. Patthanapong Nuphan, Managing Director of Channel 7HD

• Ms. Mallika Luangnimitrmas, Marketing Director Thailand of TCP Group

• Mr. Ignacio Soriano, FIBA 3×3 Head of Events

Their presence highlighted the strong institutional and commercial support behind the event.

The Champions Cup also attracted well-known figures from the local entertainment industry, adding to the event’s visibility and cultural appeal. Among those in attendance were:

• MellaMay (Melanee Marcar), performer of the official tournament theme song “Bounce”

• Ohm Cocktail, singer and music producer.

• Ter Chantavit, actor and screenwriter

• Deland Dechoshai, Thai Supermodel Male 2024 winner

• Sean Chawitsakan, actor and model

On and off the court, the event delivered a dynamic experience for fans, combining elite competition with entertainment and community engagement.

Additional highlights included:

• The Opening Ceremony

• The Road to Champions Cup youth competition finals

• The Walk of Fame and influencer engagement activities

• Entertainment elements such as the Dunk Show and Fan Zone

Together, these elements contributed to a vibrant event atmosphere that connected local audiences with the global 3×3 basketball community.

Continued momentum as the road to LA28 accelerates

The performance of the Champions Cup 2026 underscores the continued rise of 3×3 basketball across multiple dimensions — competition, content and fan engagement.

With the road to the LA28 Olympic Games underway, events like the Champions Cup play a key role in strengthening the sport’s global footprint and visibility.

The combination of digital growth, expanded broadcast reach and strong on-site engagement in Bangkok reflects a discipline that continues to evolve and reach new audiences worldwide.

FIBA

MIES (Switzerland) – The FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2025 once again underlined its status as one of the most dynamic and globally connected sports properties, delivering exceptional results across digital, broadcast and brand performance metrics throughout the season.

World Tours, Challengers and Qualifiers, spanning 38 host cities in 22 territories, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour showcased elite 3×3 basketball action on a truly international scale, combining world-class competition with compelling digital storytelling that resonated with fans around the globe.

Unprecedented Global Distribution

The season featured pro events across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. The FIBA 3×3 World Tour’s broadcast footprint continued to expand in 2025, with coverage reaching over 200 territories via digital platforms and linear television. This wide distribution ensured that fans across multiple regions could follow the action live and on demand. It reinforced and showcased 3×3 basketball’s growing presence across both emerging and established sports markets.

One Billion Impressions

Across the 2025 season, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour generated more than one billion digital content views and exposures across social and digital platforms, reflecting the scale at which fans around the world encountered World Tour content throughout the year.

Combined with broadcast distribution across more than 200 territories, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour continued to reach audiences well beyond host cities, reinforcing its global visibility across both established and emerging markets.

Throughout the season, digital content focused on highlighting the speed, intensity and urban identity of 3×3 basketball, with an emphasis on short-form, platform-native storytelling designed to meet fans where they consume content most. Short-form video formats played a central role in showcasing key moments, player highlights and event atmosphere across social platforms.

Sustained Growth

FIBA 3×3’s digital ecosystem continued to grow steadily during the FIBA 3×3 World Tour season. Across social platforms, total followers increased from 7.3 million in 2024 to 10.0 million in 2025, representing a 37% percent year-on-year growth.

This sustained growth reflects the FIBA 3×3 World Tour’s ability not only to attract new audiences, but also to convert casual viewers into long-term followers through consistent storytelling, player-driven narratives and real-time engagement around events.

Scale and Consistency

Hosting events across 22 territories underlined the scale of the 2025 season. Each stop offered a unique cultural backdrop while maintaining the distinctive look, feel and energy that define the season.

From city centers to purpose-built urban venues, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour events continued to deliver premium live experiences for fans on-site while translating that atmosphere effectively to digital and broadcast audiences worldwide.

Elevating the World’s Best

Beyond the numbers, the World Tour remained the pinnacle of professional 3×3 basketball competition. It brought together the world’s top teams and players across a full season of elite-level action. The combination of intense rivalries, dramatic finishes and standout individual performances fueled both on-court excitement and off-court engagement.

Building Global Momentum

The continued success of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2025 reinforces the sport’s position as one of the most engaging and accessible formats in global basketball. The FIBA 3×3 World Tour continues to serve as a powerful engine for the sport’s global expansion.

As 3×3 basketball looks ahead to future seasons and the continued build-up toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the 3×3 World Tour’s strong performance across digital, broadcast and brand metrics provides a solid foundation for continued global visibility, fan engagement and storytelling evolution.

With one billion impressions, expanding broadcast reach and a growing global fanbase in 2025, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour has once again proven that the half-court game is thriving on the world stage, both on and off the court.

FIBA

A UBC T-Bird has reached new heights.
 
Nylan Roberts, a six-foot-seven forward who is about to suit up for his third season in the blue and gold, just had the opportunity to represent his country on the national stage.
 
The U21 Canadian rosters for the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League were announced earlier this month, and the Abbotsford, B.C. native secured a spot alongside five other players with NCAA and U Sports experience on their resume. Led by head coach and UBC Thunderbird men’s basketball alum Jordan Jensen-Whyte, the team travelled to Paraguay to face off in a six-day tournament, and Roberts wasted little time making an impact.
 

Team Canada opened the tournament with back-to-back wins against Argentina and Brazil, with Roberts combining for 11 of the team’s 38 points. He then followed up on day two by scoring a team-high eight points to lift his side to a 21-18 win over Chile.

Roberts continued to contribute but, as the tournament went on, the competition stiffened. On the sixth and final day, Team Canada matched up with Brazil to keep their qualifying hopes alive but narrowly fell in a nail-biter that went down to the wire, 21-20. Roberts knocked down a free throw in the final two minutes to hand his side a five-point lead, but Brazil stormed back and finished the game on a 7-3 run to seal the win.

 

Throughout the tournament, the team averaged 19.7 points per game, more than anybody in its group. However, they just came up short in the conference standings. Decided by Tour Points, which are awarded based on each day’s finish, Canada narrowly missed out on a spot in September’s qualifiers as they closed out the tournament with 500, putting them just behind first-place Argentina (510).

Roberts is coming off a successful sophomore season with the T-Birds. With an increase in minutes and starts, he averaged 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and nearly a steal a game to help his squad finish with a 23-8 record and secure a spot in the U Sports Men’s Basketball Final 8. The Thunderbirds will return to action for the 2026-2027 season at War Memorial Gymnasium, with opening night tip-off to begin at 7:30 p.m. on October 29 against the Trinity Western Spartans.