UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - After spending plenty of time in the lab, 3x3's best players are fresh and ready to attack the brand new FIBA 3x3 World Tour season at the traditional Utsunomiya Opener on April 26-27. Here are the top players you just have to watch in Utsunomiya.
Strahinja Stojacic (Ub)
New year, same No.1. But the game's most decorated player has a point to prove after his long-worn crown was snatched by rival Worthy de Jong.
You just know Stojacic will have a chip on his shoulder and that just means he's about to unleash on opponents at one of his favorite hunting grounds. 'Doctor Strange' made sure the legendary half-court in Utsunomiya was his multiverse after back-to-back MVPs in 2022-23.
He'll want to start his revenge tour with another trophy to add to his collection.
Franck Seguela (Toulouse)
It might take us a while to get used to the name of Toulouse - the artists formerly known as Paris. He might be sporting a new name on new colors, but Franck Seguela will be the same dynamic Frenchman.
And expect him to be even better following the confidence he built up during an unforgettable 2024 highlighted by claiming Olympic silver on home soil as he became a legendary French athlete.
The flamboyant Frenchman is a very affable dude, who also boasts a killer smile to complement his poster boy good looks. But don't let that deceive you because Seguela is ruthless on the half-court and an absolute assassin as he'll prove in Utsunomiya.
Worthy de Jong (Amsterdam)
There was uncertainty over whether this Flying Dutchman would return to the half-court in 2025. Would he walk off into the sunset after MVPs at the biggest events of 2024 - Paris Olympics and World Tour Final?
Thankfully no, as de Jong just loves being 'Hype Worthy'. The half-court game rekindled his love affair with hoops and he wants to continue holding the crown he took from Stojacic.
It's going to be a hard act to follow after his heroics in 2024, but you know he'll live up to the hype.
Henry Caruso (Miami)
Get ready because the new Captain America is taking his talents to Miami, the No.1 team from the mighty USA. Caruso is the reigning AmeriCup MVP and now aiming to win his first top honor on the World Tour.
If there is one player to make the leap to the top tier then our bet is with this athletic marvel, who has it all. He can posterize anyone who dares stand in his way, but also has range making him unguardable when he's feeling it.
All that is missing are trophies on the World Tour and he wants to make up for lost time at Utsunomiya.
Nico Kaltenbrunner (Vienna)
The reigning Euro Cup MVP became a legit superstar in 2024, which included multiple titles on the World Tour.
The speedster is absolutely mesmerizing to watch and the heart and soul of Vienna, who cemented themselves as one of the best in the business last year. He can break ankles at will and his finishing at the rim is very impressive for a diminutive player.
Kaltenbrunner is all passion on the half-court and his emotion at winning last year's Europe Cup in front of his first child was 3x3's version of Rory McIlroy's heartfelt triumph recently at the Masters that swept the world.
Just feel the goosebumps when he puts it all on the line in Utsunomiya.
Dennis Donkor (Riffa)
Sorry bucket getters, Dennis the Menace will be in Utsunomiya and he'll be out to make your life a living hell. It's totally unfair because Donkor is also one of the most gifted scorers in the game having scored the second most points on last year's World Tour.
Donkor is the fire that ignites Riffa, one of the premier teams on the World Tour who can sometimes be erratic. But Donkor is the constant, reliable force and you just know he will again be a two-way terror in Utsunomiya.
Stefan Milivojevic (Partizan)
While some of the top players will be dusting off the cobwebs in Utsunomiya, this dude has already had considerable success after leading Serbia to the title at the historic Champions Cup with an MVP performance.
As we can glean from his dope nickname - 'The Gladiator' - the muscular Milivojevic is all power on the half-court. When he gathers steam, the Serb is impossible to stop as he makes the leap into the absolute top tier.
Don't bet against Milivojevic going back-to-back with MVPs to start a year that he's destined to define.
FIBA