SHANGHAI (China) - After an intermission of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025, refreshed superstars are ready to rumble in Shanghai as the season resumes on September 27-28.
Here are the players you just have to watch.
Strahinja Stojacic (Ub)
We just have to start with the GOAT, who is out to win another MVP in what might be his very best season of his legendary career. But for all his success in 2025, 'Doctor Strange' will have a chip on his shoulder on arrival to Shanghai after being part of Serbia's shock quarter-final exit at the recent Europe Cup.
Stojacic will be extra fired-up because he'll be looking to make amends in Shanghai, where Ub (SRB) slumped to a quarter-final loss 12 months ago. A determined Stojacic spells double trouble for opponents.
Worthy de Jong (Amsterdam Rabobank)
The Paris Olympics MVP finished 2024 with the crown, which he has since relinquished to rival Stojacic. But there is still time to snatch it back in a late season run you feel he has steeled himself for.
The Dutchman was back to being Hype Worthy at the Brasilia Challenger, where he stuffed the stats sheet and appeared to have his insane spring back. Amsterdam Rabobank (NED) are amazingly still seeking a first WT title this season and you just know de Jong will do everything he can do to end the drought.
Franck Seguela (Toulouse)
The Frenchman is well rested, having not played in a month and you just know he's raring to go. 2025 started so incredibly for Seguela, who briefly ended the dominance of Stojacic and de Jong to be the official No.1 player in the world.
He's fallen down the pecking order since, tumbling down to sixth due to not playing a heap, but we all know when he's fit and firing that Seguela is one of the very best all-round players on the half-court.
Mitch Hahn (Miami)
This all-American pro can sometimes be overshadowed, but make no mistake he's the heartbeat of the very best American team on the pro circuit. Real ones well know his importance, reflected after he joined the MVP club after taking out the top honor at the Utsunomiya Opener.
That certified him as a legit star, with Hahn well established as a two-way menace to be the glue guy for a team loaded with big names.
Nauris Miezis (Chongming)
One of the very best players to ever step on the half-court added to his legacy at the Europe Cup, where he inspired Latvia to the silver medal and his campaign for the ages included a knockout punch to powerhouse Serbia.
The man famous for being dubbed 'Robin' is more than capable of playing the lead superhero and he's right now in vintage form. It's been a while since Miezis walked off with a WT MVP, but he is well and truly in the mix having rediscovered his superpowers.
Dennis Donkor (Riffa)
Riffa (BRN) are showing signs of life recently after a tough season, where they've been overtaken by hungrier teams. But Donkor can never be accused of losing his hunger and or passion and he's been on a mission to lift Riffa back to relevancy.
Donkor has been absolutely lights out recently, complementing his outstanding lockdown defense. He does the job of two players, making DD one of the most invaluable players on the WT.
Stefan Milivojevic (Partizan)
He's baaaack! After a lean period individually and for his team, the 3x3 Gladiator is back flexing on the half-court after winning MVPs in consecutive Challenger events. The muscle man has returned to doing what he does best - driving the lane emphatically before catching a body.
It seemed like 2025 was going to be the year where Milivojevic takes over and it started so well when he won MVP at the Champions Cup. He struggled to live up the hype after that until just recently, where he is back with a vengeance.
Anand Ariunbold (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy)
The sniper has still been putting up numbers - averaging 5ppg on the WT - even though he's been a bit streaky from deep. We back this marksman to eventually catch fire and feel it might just happen in Shanghai, a favorite city for Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) who won there in 2023.
But Ariunbold was not part of that historic first triumph for Ulaanbaatar, fuelling the fire for him to get his radar right in Shanghai.
Stefan Kojic (Skyliners)
It doesn't matter what colors he wears, Stefan Kojic is exactly the same dope player on the half-court. The former Liman legend has carried over his hot shooting and strong leadership to German team Skyliners (GER), who now have moulded into a serious threat on the circuit.
Kojic is averaging 5.2 ppg on this season's WT, but he's providing intangibles going well beyond mere numbers as he will show in Shanghai.
Aleksandar Lazic (Hangzhou)
Ever since his barnstorming WT debut in Chengdu, Aleksandar Lazic has become a household name. It's easy to see why with Lazic not only putting up big numbers but he's also had 9 dunks from just 14 WT games.
The 6ft.9in (2.05m) Lazic has the combination of power and speed that makes him a nightmare match-up for opponents as he has continually shown through the season. All that is missing is WT silverware, which might be on its way in Shanghai.
Mike Efevberha (Lugano)
Who is the player heading into Shanghai with the most swagger? It's surely this Lugano sensation, who has lit a fuse under his side and he inspired his Swiss team to the title at the Manila Challenger.
Chef Mike was absolutely cookin' and not even Ub could stop him as he outplayed Stojacic in a classic final, punctuated by the title-winning two-piece. Lugano will have to go through the QD in Shanghai, but don't write them off making a deep run because they have a dude who can cook up an absolute storm on the half-court.
FIBA