WARSAW (Poland) - For Dylan Travis, the opportunity never gets old.
As he prepares to represent the United States at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup for the third time in his career, the veteran guard finds himself balancing gratitude with determination. The excitement of competing on one of the sport's biggest stages remains as strong as ever, but this year there is something else fueling him: unfinished business.
"I am feeling very grateful and blessed heading into this World Cup," Travis said. "This is my third World Cup, and I'm excited to have another chance to obtain the goal we have set out for ourselves. I am also very motivated. I feel like this team has some unfinished business after how well we played last year but came up short in the quarter-finals."
That sense of purpose has shaped Team USA's preparation for Warsaw. Since April, the players have been living and training together full-time, building chemistry and sharpening the details that often decide games in the fast-paced world of 3x3 basketball.
According to Travis, the work is already showing results.
"Our preparations have been great," he said. "We've been living and practicing together full time since April. We've had recent success winning in Zadar, so we hope to keep that momentum going into Warsaw."
The veteran pointed to improvements on both ends of the floor, particularly the team's defensive discipline and offensive versatility. More importantly, he believes the roster's complementary skill sets make the Americans difficult to contain.
"We all complement each other in a great way and everyone is a threat to score, so we are hard to guard for opposing teams," he said.
The road to a world title, however, will be anything but easy. The FIBA 3x3 World Cup brings together the best teams on the planet, each carrying their own ambitions and expectations. Yet when Travis scans the schedule, one matchup stands out.
The United States will face host nation Poland in what promises to be one of the tournament's most electric atmospheres.
"I think the game versus Poland will be a great atmosphere and a lot of fun," Travis said. "A late-night game under the lights against the hometown team in front of a loud crowd. Who doesn't dream of those scenarios when you're in the backyard as a kid shooting hoops?"
For all the excitement surrounding marquee matchups, Travis knows championships are rarely won through talent alone. The Americans have not lifted the men's FIBA 3x3 World Cup trophy since 2019, and he believes the difference this year will come down to trust, composure, and execution.
"The X-factor for us to win is just trusting our preparation," he explained. "Staying poised when things don't go our way and sticking to our principles on the defensive end."
In a format where games can be decided by a single possession, those details become magnified. Close contests are inevitable. Fatigue is unavoidable. The teams that survive are often the ones that remain disciplined when pressure peaks.
"The World Cup will always have close games that are 21-19," Travis said. "They can go either way. It comes down to which team will step up and make plays down the stretch."
As Team USA chases their first men's world title in seven years, Travis carries lessons from those who helped shape his journey, including 2019 world champion Kareem Maddox and longtime USA 3x3 coach Robbie Hummel.
"That 2019 team was special," Travis reflected. "I've learned a lot from both of them during my time in 3x3 and wouldn't be the player I am today without their guidance and mentorship."
Now, with another World Cup on the horizon, Travis hopes those lessons, combined with months of preparation and a hunger for redemption, can help write the next chapter in USA Basketball's 3x3 story.
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