Key Takeaways
- The U.S. men landed a fourth Women’s‑World‑Cup title in Warsaw, cementing a historic benchmark for American basketball.
- Past men’s squads relied on ad‑hoc rosters instead of a dedicated 3×3 program, limiting cohesion and performance.
- Fredette emphasizes that converting the 3×3 program to a full‑time, year‑round setup is essential for sustained international dominance.
- Early results under his leadership show improvement—closer quarter‑finals against France—but the gap to elite teams like Latvia remains.
- A systematic, long‑term approach and talent retention are presented as the roadmap to LA28 medal contention.
Background and Ambition
The United States has long excelled in 3×3 basketball, boasting three World Cup medals on the men’s side: gold in 2019 and silvers in 2016 and 2023. Those achievements are impressive, yet they pale in comparison to the women’s program, which recently captured its fourth World Cup title in Warsaw, added an Olympic gold from Tokyo 2020, and secured bronze at the Paris 2024 Games. This juxtaposition highlights a disparity in resources, focus, and sustained success between the genders within U.S. basketball. The ambition driving Bernard “B” Fredette, the newly appointed head coach of the men’s team, is to replicate—and eventually surpass—that level of excellence by embedding a robust, full‑time 3×3 infrastructure across the nation.
Long‑Term Strategic Shift
Fredette’s diagnosis of the men’s previous shortcomings is stark: rival nations have invested in dedicated 3×3 development pathways, whereas the United States historically assembled rosters on an opportunistic basis. “The biggest thing is we’ve got to make it a full‑time programme,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for continuous gym time, regular practice with athletes whose primary focus is 3×3, and a cultural shift toward that mindset. This transition requires more than occasional camps—it demands a permanent staff, stable funding, and a pipeline that produces players committed to the format year‑round. By treating 3×3 as a full‑time profession, the U.S. aims to match the systematic approaches of Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, which have already yielded deeper talent pools and higher competitive ceilings.
Challenges of the Past
Historically, the U.S. men’s 3×3 teams were cobbled together for specific tournaments rather than nurtured through a structured system. This patchwork method constrained players’ ability to develop chemistry, refine specialized tactics, and maintain peak physical condition throughout the season. Consequently, the team often entered major events with limited preparation and inconsistent performances. Fredette notes that the lack of a committed full‑time environment prevented athletes from accessing the same depth of coaching, video analysis, and recovery resources that their international competitors enjoyed. Addressing these gaps involves more than hiring coaches; it requires a cultural reorientation that values 3×3 as a primary career path rather than a secondary pursuit.
First Tournament Results
Fredette’s debut World Cup as head coach arrived in 2025, where the newly assembled roster fell 22‑14 to Germany in the quarter‑finals. While the loss signified an early setback, it also provided a valuable benchmark for measuring progress. The following month, at the Warsaw World Cup, the same squad demonstrated marked improvement, topping its group and engaging France in a nail‑biting 14‑11 quarter‑final showdown. That contest was notably tighter than the prior encounter, indicating that the full‑time preparation model was beginning to bear fruit. Nonetheless, the team still fell short of the medal rounds, highlighting that bridging the remaining distance to elite competition will require continued refinement and experience under the new system.
Comparison with Women’s Program
The women’s program’s recent triumphs illustrate what is achievable when a national federation commits resources and strategic focus to 3×3. Their consecutive medals—including an Olympic gold—were underpinned by a sustained talent pipeline, dedicated coaching staff, and a culture that prioritizes 3×3 year‑round. By contrast, the men’s team, while possessing notable moments such as the 2019 World Cup championship, has not yet instituted the same depth of institutional support. Fredette points to this disparity as both a cautionary tale and a blueprint: replicating the women’s model of long‑term athlete development, systematic scouting, and consistent competition calendars will be pivotal for the men’s squad to achieve comparable heights.
Looking Ahead to LA28
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics represent the next major milestone for the U.S. men’s 3×3 program. With the full‑time framework now in place, the coaching staff anticipates that the roster will gain cohesion, tactical depth, and the mental resilience needed to contend at the highest level. Key objectives include closing the performance gap with dominant teams like Latvia, solidifying player chemistry through prolonged collaboration, and ensuring that the talent pool remains refreshed and competitive across successive cycles. Fredette believes that if the program continues to evolve at its current pace, the United States can realistically target podium finishes in LA28 and beyond, thereby cementing its status as a global powerhouse in both men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball.
Conclusion and Action Plan
In summary, the United States possesses a strong legacy in 3×3 basketball, but its men’s side must transition from episodic participation to a robust, full‑time development model to achieve sustained international success. Bernard Fredette’s vision hinges on institutional commitment, player dedication, and strategic resource allocation. Early tournament results suggest that the new approach is already producing more competitive performances, yet the journey toward podium contention remains a work in progress. By learning from the women’s program’s achievements and implementing a systematic, long‑term strategy, the U.S. men aim to emerge as serious medal contenders at the 2028 LA Games and establish a lasting legacy in the global 3×3 landscape.