MIES (Switzerland) - As the calendar ticks into summer in the northern hemisphere, the time is right to do a temperature check after the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025 hit its quarter mark.
It's been a hectic start to the season with four memorable World Tours being played in this 16-Stop season before the showpiece Manama Final.
While we have a short breather before the WT Vienna, let's see how the season shapes up so far.
Parity stands out this season
Four Stops, four different winners. The World Tour over its 14-season history has been defined by dominant teams such as Ub, Novi Sad, Riga and Liman who used to collect titles at will.
But times have changed and there is now incredible depth of talent across the board. The absolute best of the best is a murderer's row and we've already seen Miami (USA), Toulouse (FRA), Ub (SRB) and Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) be crowned as champions.
The top tier of teams are basically dead even and those beneath them are coming at them quickly, creating unprecedented parity in the WT. It means anyone is capable of going all the way at any time, so expect the unexpected at the upcoming WT stops for the remainder of the season.
Don't write off Ub
With the competition getting stronger, Ub (SRB) are no longer the unstoppable force that we've been used to over the last few seasons. Question marks were raised after the GOAT team failed to make the final in the opening two Stops.
But we should have known better because Ub were just warming into the season as they rediscovered their vintage best to win the WT Marseille. The Serbs' formula to success was back - pretty ball movement and lockdown defense - as they defied the critics in style.
They might not be able to completely run through the competition anymore, but Ub still remain No.1 in the rankings for good reason.
Frustrations for Amsterdam RABOBANK
Last year was a golden season for the men in orange. With several of their stars glowing with Olympic gold, Amsterdam took out the biggest prize of the World Tour 2024 after clinching the Hong Kong Final.
But that happiness has turned into frustrations for Amsterdam, who have still shown flashes of their electric best but it has not translated into dubs. The Dutch Masters have had to endure plenty of near misses with runner-up finishes at the Utsunomiya Opener, Chengdu and Marseille.
And their home curse continued after being bundled out in the quarters at the WT Amsterdam in a great disappointment for their passionate fans.
But being the only team who has played in every stop so far, Amsterdam do sit on top of the standings with 290 points - 80 points clear of Miami and Toulouse.
The race for the crown is heating up
We knew heading into the season that this would be a battle royale. The fight for 3x3's individual crown has never been hotter after Olympic MVP Worthy de Jong snatched No.1 Strahinja Stojacic's belt for best player alive after capping an unforgettable season by winning MVP at the World Tour Final.
And the two greats are at the top of most of the major stats although 'Doctor Strange' has recently reclaimed the crown and is sitting back on the throne after a vintage MVP performance in Marseille.
It's far from a two-horse race with Franck Seguela elevating his dynamic game on the back of his heroics at last year's Paris Olympics. Seguela rose to the No.1 ranking for the first time recently and he absolutely has entered the discussions alongside de Jong and Stojacic.
Toulouse's other superstar Paul Djoko is coming out of Seguela's shadow having won MVP in Amsterdam, while other MVP winners so far are underrated pair Mitch Hahn from Miami and lethal Lithuanian Aurelijus Pukelis as 3x3's biggest stars are balling to start 2025.
Chinese teams are coming
We've seen flashes of brilliance over the years from Chinese teams on the World Tour, but 2025 might just be the year a couple of their top sides make the leap.
Hangzhou (CHN) and Chongming (CHN) are looking deadly dangerous having each made semi-finals from the two stops they've played so far. Hangzhou are previous champs on the World Tour, but this is a new team and they boast excitement machine Aleksandar Lazic who is becoming the WT breakout star.
His breath-taking athleticism is taking Hangzhou to new heights, while Chongming have meant business ever since recruiting Latvian legends Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis.
But it's big fella Cameron Forte who has become their talisman as he plays bully ball in the paint like no other while Chinese star Dianliang Zhang is making a name for himself as a certified bucket getter.
These rising Chinese teams currently sit in the top 10 of the WT standings and don't be surprised if they win titles this season.
FIBA