Netherlands aim for right balance around superstar de Jong at Paris Olympics

AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) - With superstar Worthy de Jong steering the wheel, the Netherlands will have their sights firmly on a medal at the Paris Olympics. 

Let's take a closer look at the two-time World Cup runners-up. 

NETHERLANDS

Ranking: 4th 

Previous Olympic Appearances: 2021 (5th)

Squad: Worthy de Jong, Arvin Slagter, Dimeo van der Horst, Jan Driessen

Key Player: Worthy de Jong

Expect anyone else? Worthy de Jong is a Dutch basketball legend, who might have found his calling by playing 3x3. 

He's appropriately nicknamed 'Hype Worthy' because the flying Dutchman provides insane plays every time he steps on the half-court. And he lights up the scoring charts having re-written records that might take a long time to break. 

But de Jong is a winner and he's already having a brilliant 2024 after winning MVP in Amsterdam's victory at the Ulaanbaatar Masters. 

The 6ft. 4in (1.94m) athletic freak plays with pride every time he puts on the orange singlet as he showed when an emotional de Jong powered the Netherlands to an Olympic ticket. 

He will make his Olympic debut in Paris in what will be the crowning moment for the best pure scorer 3x3 has ever seen.  

Qualification: The Netherlands were desperate to qualify for back-to-back Olympics having played in Tokyo. 

After falling agonizingly short in the FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 1, the Netherlands were on a mission second time around. 

They impressively clinched their spot at the FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 during an unbeaten run capped by beating Lithuania in the final.

They had a complete performance and weren't just reliant on de Jong, who still produced an epic performance to walk off with the MVP. 

Everyone contributed with sniper Arvin Slagter shooting the lights out in the final, while big fella Jan Driessen played the game of his life to limit Lithuanian star Aurelijus Pukelis.

And 3x3 Dutch pioneer Dimeo van der Horst played with energy and celebrated the triumph with trademark gusto. 

Expectations: As a powerhouse, having reached the podium at the World Cup and the Europe Cup, it feels fitting that the Netherlands made their second straight Olympics. 

Slagter and van der Horst were part of the Netherlands' quarter-final run in Tokyo. But this team is more talented and explosive boasting multiple scoring threats combined with the inside presence of Driessen.

It is with good reason that the Dutch Masters have been tipped as a medal contender. 

The current line-up has built chemistry in recent years, proving invaluable in clutch moments in Utsunomiya.

Sometimes there is an overreliance on de Jong, but if they can get the balance right then the Netherlands loom as one of the most dynamic teams in Paris.

FIBA