Traditional basketball’s odd cousin is making its debut at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Spectators will be introduced to a more rapid and compact variation of the sport, which will most likely leave them utterly satisfied and in awe by the talent of some players.

What Makes 3×3 Basketball Interesting

The game is played in an outdoor arena that is half the size of a traditional court. The ball is slightly smaller and all games are accompanied by loud music played by DJs. It has a street vibe and energetic nature, which makes it fun to watch from a spectator’s point of view.

Each team consists of four players, three starters, and one reserve. When the game starts, there are ten minutes on the clock, and those ten minutes are absolutely insane and breakneck. Both teams shoot into the same hoop and there are no pauses in-between baskets.

The team in possession of the ball has twelve seconds to take a shot, which is half the time of traditional basketball. Furthermore, fouls aren’t called easily because the game is rougher and more physical. The winner is determined in one of two ways – the team with the most points when the clock runs out or the team that first reaches 21 points.

Who Are Favorites for the Gold Medals

The Serbian team led by Dušan Bulut, the sport’s most dominant player, is expected to win the gold medals from the men’s tournament. Latvia and the Russian Olympic Committee are also considered as pretenders for the podium.

In the women’s tournament, two nations stand out from the lot, France and the United States. The former is the current number one ranked team in the world, while the U.S. is led by the highly talented Stefanie Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young.

Who will win the Olympic gold medals at the 3×3 basketball event is yet to be determined, but one thing is certain – that the sport will surely attract a serious following with its pace and energy.

The filmmaker behind Black Panther, Ryan Coogler, who is also building out the world of Wakanda for a new Disney+ series, has signed another deal with Disney. He signed a new and exclusive five-year deal between his own Proximity Media and Disney TV. Coogler’s multi-media company will have a hand in shows that will be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The Wakanda Creator’s Company Will Also Be Allowed to Develop Shows for Other Disney Outlets

Disney executive chairman Bob Iger recently said in a statement that Ryan Coogler is a singular storyteller with vision and range that made him a standout filmmaker among his generation. He added that Black Panther allowed Ryan to bring to life a groundbreaking story with iconic characters in a real, memorable, and meaningful way, creating a watershed cultural moment. In addition, Iger said the teams at Disney were eager to strengthen their relationship with Coogler and looked forward to telling great stories with his team. No doubt, the chairman was referring to both the Wakanda series that is currently being developed and other Disney outlets.

Ryan Coogler runs Proximity Media together with principals Sev Ohanian, Archie Davis, Ludwig Göransson, Peter Nicks, and Zinzi Coogler. In addition to developing the Wakanda world for the new series, he is also writing the sequel for Black Panther. Its release date is currently set for July 8, 2022, with plans for a July production start.

Coogler Said the Partnership With The Walt Disney Company Was an Honor

Coogler also made a statement, saying that it was an honor to enter into a partnership with The Walt Disney Company. He said that working on Black Panther with them was a dream come true and he and his team at Proximity could not be happier to be launching their television business with Dana Walden, Bob Iger, and all the great studios under Disney. Apparently, the team at Proximity is looking forward to building their relationship with Disney audiences from around the world. Coogler also mentioned that his team was going to work on select MCU shows that will air on Disney+ and was already involved in some projects.