Some countries build their national teams using both senior and junior players, sometimes risking short-term result to gain a long-term advantage. Others, playing in top-level tournaments like World Tour, WorldCup or continental championships, use only the most-experienced, absolute top-ranking roster. That’s also fine, but you cannot expect huge rewards if you don’t invest regularly. And an old investor’s truth is that low risk = low return. Recently crowned U23 World Champions from Lithuania got their reward for courage this past weekend…
…and they did it for the second time in a row.
A steady roster makes you a monster
Three-quarters of the young Lithuanian team remained unchanged compared to 2025. The only addition made was Paulius Velutis, a 22-year-old, 193 cm tall shooter from Vilnius. It was a great addition to the roster, as Velutis finished the tournament in China as MVP. Or maybe MPV (Mighty Paulius Velutis)? Here you can see him playing against young Serbians, watch till the end:
In the final game, they stopped the Latvians from sweeping all available men’s 3x3 basketball gold medals in 2026, following Latvia’s wins in the WorldCup and EuroCup:
Congrats and hats off to double champs!
The birth of the Larry Bird of 3x3 basketball
William Mahoney secured the bronze medal for Australia in overtime, playing like Larry Legend…
…and looking like Larry Legend, too. While dribbling:
While shooting:
And in his off-court time, too:
Seriously, his style strongly resembles Boston’s Larry Bird. He is smart, he is confident, he is a great shooter and he is everywhere on the court. We just became fans.
Seniors teach, juniors reach
Lithuania’s key player, Rokas Jocys, was sometimes a weak point of the World Cup team, but these lessons definitely paid back past weekend. Young Latvians play in Challengers regularly. Mahoney played in World Tour last year, his teammate Griffin Biwer spent a season in 3X3.EXE PREMIER league. Serbians’ youngsters are often present in masters. New Zealanders were in Warsaw earlier this year, too.
That’s the recipe we mentioned at the beginning. Younger players has to be introduced to the best nation’s teams and learn how to compete on top level in practice. Not during the practice, in real games, with big stake, in front of big crowds. That’s how you build strength, skills, stamina and winner’s mentality.
And that’s the exact opposite of what our favourite team, Miami, just did by adding Jimmer Fredette to the roster, right after he came out of retirement.
But this is another story, which we may cover one day in the future… if you want to read about it. Let us know!
Bonus: The greatest WorldCup U23 gold medal game ever
Every year, during WorldCup U23 we come back to this final game, where our beloved Poland completed one of the craziest comebacks in 3x3 basketball history. Great tournament, fantastic times, the best arena:
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