MIES (Switzerland) - One year ago in Paris, as the final buzzer echoed through Place de la Concorde rained onto the court, Worthy De Jong stood frozen — not from exhaustion, but from disbelief.
"I was in the moment," De Jong says now, "but at the same time I really couldn’t believe it."
The Netherlands had done the unthinkable. Olympic gold in 3x3 basketball.
What began as a long shot — a nation not well-known for their achievements on the hardwood, a team forged more by friendship than fame — had become one of the most compelling stories of the 2024 Paris Olympics. And at the center of it was De Jong, the high-flying, joy-filled face of Dutch 3x3 basketball, whose performance and presence anchored their historic run.
"To me, I believe, that moment of extreme silence when the ball was in the air — and then everyone going crazy — that’s the image that stuck."
Twelve months later, that moment still glows, not just in medal cabinets or highlight reels, but in the legacy it left behind.
Worthy of the Spotlight
Named after Los Angeles Lakers legend James Worthy, De Jong grew up in Amsterdam, where his family moved from Suriname when he was two. He started playing basketball at 11, driven by the example of his father, himself a former player.
Long before he ever stepped onto a 3x3 court, De Jong had made a name in 5-on-5 — as a Dutch league MVP and a fixture on the national team. But his pivot to 3x3 unlocked something different. With more space to operate and a faster pace to thrive in, De Jong’s creativity and charisma turned into a weapon.
His rise brought not only highlight dunks and clutch buckets, but also a cultural shift. 3x3 in the Netherlands suddenly had a face, a flair and a future.
The Road to Gold
The journey to Olympic glory wasn’t linear, though. The Dutch team experienced heartbreak in Tokyo 2021, falling short of the podium. De Jong was not part of the program yet, but that disappointment fueled a new chapter for the Netherlands.
"After we beat Lithuania [in Paris], it all started to feel so close," De Jong says. "Emotions got high and we all knew something special was coming."
It wasn’t just the opponents or the stakes that made the run demanding. It was also what he left behind.
"Mentally, for sure, it was the hardest," he reflects. "Being there without my kids was tough. But I was happy that Janis [his partner] and some of my friends came and watched."
That blend of drive and vulnerability shaped his approach, and it helped carry the team through adversity.
Built on Friendship
The Dutch didn’t overwhelm teams with size or pedigree. They overwhelmed them with rhythm, unity and belief.
"What made this team special," De Jong says, "was the amount of team chemistry we had, and of course, the friendship."
It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t polished. But it was real. On the court, it translated into trust. Off the court, it became family.
And when the final game arrived, that emotional core was as important as any game plan. They weren’t just chasing a win. They were chasing something bigger. Netherlands were chasing history.
A Year of Legacy
Twelve months on, De Jong doesn’t wear the gold medal often. But when he does look at it, it speaks volumes.
"Legacy," he says. "And confirmation that we are where we belong."
The win altered how he’s seen, whether it's by the public, and maybe even by himself. "I get seen as a different person," he admits. "Recognised by the public as a winner."
But the Olympic peak and that recognition have not dulled his hunger.
"What drives me now," he smiles, "is the joy I get from playing basketball and seeing the world."
Whether it’s on the 3x3 World Tour or mentoring younger players, De Jong continues to give back to the game that’s given him everything.
Leaving It Better
Ask him what he hopes people say when they remember the 2024 Olympic team, and he doesn’t hesitate.
"That we put Dutch basketball on the map," he says. "Left it better than you found it."
That, perhaps, is the final legacy of Paris: a group of players — led by one unforgettable Worthy — who played with joy, lifted a nation, and proved that chemistry, belief and heart can carry you all the way to gold.
FIBA