The FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024 concluded with a breath-taking finale this weekend, as Miami were crowned the champions of the premier 3x3 basketball competition.
Miami (USA) regained top form, defeating Liman (SRB) 22-19 in a thrilling final. Having last won a stop in Edmonton in July, the American side returned to the top in NEOM after coming close in recent weeks. Bahrain’s Al-Zallaq emerged victorious in the Women’s Cup.
“Winning the Neom Masters and Beach Games meant a lot to me and this version of Team Miami with James Parrott, Mitch Hahn and Trey Bardsley. For one, my teammates and I had not won a Masters yet”, said Dylan Travis, 3x3 player from Team Miami. “The experience itself was a great way to end this long trip. The NEOM community made us feel very welcomed. The hospitality was amazing, the food was great and the camp was a lot fun to be around. I felt like I was back in college playing ping pong and video games. We got to do stuff I’ve never done before like snorkeling and paddle boarding. We got to create a lot of memories I never thought would happen but it did thanks to 3x3 and NEOM. The Neom venue and crowd atmosphere was one of the best I’ve played in my whole 3x3 career. I’d love to be back next season.”
The fast-paced basketball and vibrant urban festival atmosphere drew large crowds to NEOM’s shores for the third consecutive time, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s position as a passionate and world class host for 3x3 basketball competition. The non-stop entertainment and high-scoring nature of 3x3 basketball, the world's number one urban team sport, has developed a strong footprint both in the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region.
NEOM Sport’s Managing Director, Jan Paterson, remarked, “Since its debut at the first NEOM Beach Games in 2022, the FIBA 3x3 competition has grown from a Super Quest event to last year’s Challenger, and now to this year’s World Tour – the pinnacle of 3x3 basketball. This progression reflects NEOM’s commitment to hosting and showcasing world-class sporting events with the support of international partners, and fostering a dynamic community around basketball.”
"We are thrilled with the success of our debut FIBA 3x3 World Tour in NEOM's iconic landscape," said FIBA 3x3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez. “Now in our third year of bringing elite 3x3 basketball to NEOM, this tournament continues to reinforce the growing appeal of our sport in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NEOM to bring more world class basketball events to this unique destination.”
The success of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024 reinforces NEOM’s role in fuelling Saudi Arabia’s growing passion for basketball, providing an incredible development platform for local talent and inspiring the next generation of 3x3 basketball stars.