3x3 basketball's popularity rising fast

Hineaupounamu Nuku in control for Tauranga's Te Kura Kokiri against Westlake Girls' High School. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

The continuing boom in 3x3 basketball since it became an Olympic sport for Tokyo in 2020 has led to record numbers playing across the country.

That trend is evident at ASB Arena this week as 66 per cent more teams are taking part in Basketball New Zealand Secondary Schools 3x3 National Championships than 12 months ago.

There are 105 boys' and girls' teams representing 47 secondary schools in action at the ASB Arena with the three-day tournament set to finish later today,

An interested observer of all the talent on show was the NZ Open Men's 3x3 head coach Anthony Corban, who has two world under-18 3x3 titles to his credit as a coach.

"This is the fifth year this tournament has been in existence, and the second year in Tauranga.

Every year it has just grown bigger and bigger with participation numbers. It is really introducing 3x3, which is now an Olympic sport in 2020, to a generation of secondary school athletes," Corban said.

"It has been great to see a lot of different schools here this year. It is also a great teaching tool for the 5x5 game because all the athletes on court get to practice their skills and learn to play as a team because you are not allowed a game coach. So it is about collective player ownership."

Corban says the growth in numbers playing both forms of basketball is coming from other sports.

"A lot of smaller schools that can't participate in the AA New Zealand Secondary Schools championship that only has 24 teams are getting into this (3x3).

"The growth in participation in basketball generally can be linked to the profile of our Tall Blacks team, Steven Adams in the NBA obviously, the New Zealand Breakers team and I think a lot of it is social media presence as well."

Tauranga City Basketball director of development Rachel Gwerder says the nationals held in Tauranga is an exciting opportunity for kids to see other avenues in basketball.

"Some of our kids may well have a pathway through 3x3. You look for bigger, stronger people that can shoot from the outside as well as penetrate. It is exciting for these kids to have another avenue to have success in this sport."

Leading the Tauranga Boys' College attack was Josiah Albert, 17, who is enjoying his first experience of a 3x3 national tournament.

"It is great and a good experience for me. You have more freedom on the court. It helps me learn to grow in basketball for the future. I would love to play for my country one day in the Tall Blacks," he said.

"(3x3) is quick cause it is only played on half court and you use your time on court to hustle and when you get tired you just sub on and off. It is good to be physical on court."

Aquinas College star Briarley Rogers, who represented NZ Under-17 last year, is a big fan of the 3x3 version.

"I love the pace better. It is a lot faster, more shots get put up. It is a great tournament because you get to meet lots of new people as well. It is good experience for our younger players."