Jimmer Fredette named MVP of 3×3 International Cup at Golden 1 Center
Oct 2, 2023, 10:41 AM
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: An exterior general view of the Golden 1 Center before the Sacramento Kings play the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 26, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings hosted the 2nd annual 3×3 International Cup at Golden 1 Center on Sunday and former Sacramento King Jimmer Fredette, a member of Team Miami, excelled in front of the familiar crowd.
For the first time, the FIBA-endorsed Quest competition, allowed the teams to earn FIBA 3×3 ranking points, which are the key to qualifying for major 3×3 events, including the Olympic Games. Varying rules from traditional basketball make for a fast, exciting, high-paced competition.
Twelve teams participated, including nine across America and three international teams with Mexico City, Jamacia, and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
Team Sacramento, who won the inaugural event last year, was represented by Drake U’u, Reggie Willhite, Michael Bryson, and Mark Payne. They were unsuccessful in defending their crown with the increased competition and unpredictable games.
Alongside Fredette on Team Miami was Dylan Travis, Kareem Maddox and Canyon Berry (son of Rick Berry). After battling through prior rounds, they faced off against 3BALL Omaha in the 3×3 International Cup championship game.
It was their fifth game of the day, and Team Miami team fell down early before managing to bring it back. Fredette was named MVP of the tournament en route to his team’s win.
“It was a lot of fun. It was exciting,” Fredette said. “You could feel the energy in the crowd towards the end. It was back-and-forth, back-and-forth. We started off down and had to crawl our way back, which is not easy to do in 3×3, so it was super fun. To play in front of the crowd again and in the arena again was special.”
3×3 basketball will be featured in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Fredette (34) has moved on from the idea of returning to the NBA and set his sights on winning a gold medal for the USA.
“It’s the road to the gold,” Fredette said. “We got to make it to the Olympics first, but then once we get there, then obviously we have high expectations for ourselves and want to play as well as we can.”
3×3 basketball tournaments continue worldwide, with Team Miami’s victory qualifying them for the Chengdu Masters World Tour next month and moving them one step closer to Paris.
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