SHENZHEN (China) - This is the regular season finale of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2024 and that just means the best players on the planet will be extra pumped up at the Shenzhen Masters on November 16-17.
Here are the players you just have to watch.
THE FUTURE
Herve Jean-Pierre (Ermont SENEF)
France have a long line of superstars and this 22-year-old excitement machine is next in line to take his country's crown. He has had a breakout with insane scoring binges filled with crazy highlight plays as he leads emerging Ermont SENEF (FRA).
This high-flyer might just make a big-time statement in the last stop of the regular season.
Fabian Giessmann (St Pauli)
These young Germans have been one of the success stories to emerge in 2024. They are no longer hype, but the real deal. And that extends to young star Fabian Giessmann, who has moved up the ladder from phenom to a dude who can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
The 19-year-old has flat out dominated in his World Tour appearances, averaging an insane 8.8 ppg with the promise of much more to come. Starting at Shenzhen.
THE SUPERSTARS
Strahinja Stojacic (Ub Huishan NE)
He's still No.1 but it's been the fight of 'Doctor Strange's' life. He has had numerous contenders nipping at his heels, but Stojacic remains the game's best player with all-round brilliance leading Ub Huishan NE (SRB) to still sit pretty at the top.
But you just know Stojacic will be hurt from all these painful defeats that are racking up for Ub. It has felt like the 3x3 gods have been against them yet Ub are still in pole position heading into the regular season finale.
Stojacic is ready to put the cape on and finish the season strongly to end all debate.
Worthy de Jong (Amsterdam)
Speaking of those chasing Stojacic and you instantly think of Hype Worthy, who no matter what happens will always have the most incredible 2024. But even though he's an Olympic MVP, two-time World Tour MVP and achieved the No.1 ranking, de Jong isn't nearly satisfied.
He wants the perfect finish starting at Shenzhen where he aims to paint the city orange.
Franck Seguela (Paris)
Here's another dude who will never ever forget 2024 with his heroic deeds at the Paris Olympics making him a French hero for life. Perhaps only Stojacic has the all-round genius to match sizzling Seguela, who is near the top of most of the major stats.
With teammate Hugo Suhard amid a late season scoring binge, Stojacic has proven even more dangerous because he can get off the leash and do what he does best. And that's break down defenses for sheer fun.
Nico Kaltenbrunner (Vienna)
The speedy Kaltenbrunner hasn't quite reached his absolute electric best where he was in the kind of peak form that his Austrian compatriot Arnold famously reached back in the early 1990s.
But you know it's coming after he showed glimpses of brilliance in Neom to lead Vienna to the semis. Kaltenbrunner isn't merely satisfied with those results, however, because he's tasted the absolute heights of 3x3 and he wants to shoot back to the top in Shenzhen.
THE SHOUTOUTS
We just can't end this now because there are still some certified ballers we have to holler out. Starting with OG entertainer Dominique Jones, who you better know as Disco Domo.
And this trio are scoring machines who did it in different but equally effective styles. Henry Caruso can put defenders in a body bag, while sniper Stefan Kojic prefers putting the dagger in from deep.
And Quincy Diggs just gets to his spot and hits the sweet J. Rinse and repeat.
FIBA