Everything you need to know before FIBA 3x3 World Tour Debrecen 2024

DEBRECEN (Hungary) - It's that exciting time of year when the FIBA 3x3 World Tour returns to the fan favorite Debrecen Masters. 

Here is all the important information for the eighth Masters of 2024 as the World Tour inches closer to the business end of the season. 

Where can I watch the Debrecen Masters?

The action runs from August 31- September1, and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube page.

Who is competing in Debrecen?

Six of the top nine teams in the rankings and a total of 14 squads: Miami, Ub Huishan NE, Vienna, Amsterdam, Riffa, Liman, Podgorica Kodio, Utrecht, Plunge, Warsaw Lotto,  Mataro, Debrecen, Montreux,  Split Sportko

What are the pools?

 

Who are the favorites?

We just have to start with the amazing Austrians, who are having the time of their lives on the half-court.

Not long after Vienna (AUT) clinched the Almaty Masters in style, the awesome foursome memorably led Austria to their first-ever Europe Cup triumph.

 

But nothing is guaranteed because this is a loaded field with Ub Huishan NE (SRB) desperate for a title after a tough period for 3x3 powerhouse Serbia on the international stage. 

Ub will also be out for revenge after losing the final in Almaty to Vienna. We haven't quite seen the best of Ub on the World Tour this season having won just one title so far.

They've slipped down the rankings behind No.1 ranked Miami (USA), who will be without injured superstar Jimmer Fredette but do have walking bucket Canyon Barry fresh off his Paris 2024 heroics. 

Amsterdam (NED) will no doubt be still basking in the glow of Netherlands' Olympic gold medal with big fella Jan Driessen set to take his game up another level after starring at La Concorde. 

 

Riffa (BRN) have struggled on the World Tour 2024, but they are at full-strength and mean business for the final stretch of the season. 

Legendary Liman (SRB) are starting to get rolling after making the semis in Lausanne and it's another opportunity to savor OGs Stefan Kojic and Mihailo Vasic, who have recently put it all on the line for their beloved Serbia. 

Who are the players to watch? 

We just have to start with Strahinja Stojacic, who has a chip on his shoulder after Fredette initially took his No.1 ranking before Worthy de Jong grabbed the top ranking after stealing the show in Paris with an MVP performance. 

'Doctor Strange' played with an edge at the Europe Cup and he looks set to make Debrecen his personal multiverse. 

Younger challengers to the throne are emerging - none more so than Almaty and Europe Cup MVP Nico Kaltenbrunner, who is the hottest sensation in 3x3 right now.

He is playing with skill and plenty of emotion after becoming a dad and creating his own 3x3 family. 

 

Riffa is loaded with firepower. Pick your poison - the two-way mastery of Dennis Donkor or the inside dominance of Caspar Augustijnen?

Then there are scoring machines Thibaut Vervoort and Jonas Foerts, who make this team able to score 21 quicker than you can type Riffa. 

Utrecht (NED) loom as a dark horse because they have Olympic gold medalist Dimeo van der Horst, who will be the perfect running man for explosive young gun Nesta Agasi.

If Debrecen is in the grips of a heatwave then it might just be because Milos Jovanovic and Przemyslaw Zamojski are cooking from deep. 

FIBA