Most memorable stats of FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2020 return

DEBRECEN (Hungary) - The return of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2020 was action-packed, filled with three events taking place in a little over a week. Let's look back at the players who outshined the rest with the most eye-catching stats of the World Tour.

Leading Scorer: Joey King (NY Harlem); 82 points

We all know about Disco Domo’s scoring prowess, but over three events, Joey King was the most consistent force in the 3x3 game.

His inside-outside touch was clutch when they needed it most, including a game-winner by King against Novi Sad in the Europe Masters.

After a timid start at the Debrecen Masters (15 points in 3 games), King went to Battle Royale mode at the Hungary Masters (top scorer, 36 points in just 4 games) and the Europe Masters (second leading scorer, 31 points in 4 games).

His 2-pointer didn't always drop (5/20 on the week) but his 1-point percentage (70%) and free-throw percentage (88%) were on point.

These were by far King’s most prolific World Tour events, with hopes that the big man can take Harlem to the next level.


Points per game: Ignas Vaitkus (Utena); 8.2ppg

Ignas Vaitkus might be new to the 3x3 game, but you would never know it by the way that he dominated. Utena Uniclub made a surprise run at the Debrecen Masters as the 12th seed. We knew they'd be good but not this good.

On his way to a championship game loss vs. Liman (SRB), Vaitkus scored 8.2 points per game (considering players who competed in more than 4 games), tops for the tournament, and the World Tour to date. He was followed in the standing by top-scorer Joey King (7.5) and Stefan Stojacic (6.6).

The 27-year-old shot well all over the court: from the free throw line (82%) to inside (62%) and outside the arc (39%).

Vaitkus also leads all players in player value per game (Points x Points/Field Goals attempted + Blocks + Key Assists + Tissot Buzzer Beaters - Turnovers + Rebounds/2). Westher Molteni and Stefan Stojacic were #2 and #3 respectively.

 

Most Blocks (11): Marcel Esonwune (NY Harlem)

There is no player in 3x3 you want to see less meeting you at the rim than NY Harlem’s Marcel Esonwune; just ask Novi Sad’s Tamas Ivosev. Esonwune is once again the top shot blocker on the World Tour right now.

As Joey King and Disco Domo bring the offense, Esonwune brought the blocked shots and rebounding, leading the team with 5.6 boards per game.

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Somebody is working hard to win the MSP award 👀 #3x3WT @marcel.esonwune

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Most Highlights (43) & Key Assists (30): Nauris Miezis (Riga)

No player had more of an impact on this week’s games than the number two player in the world, Nauris Miezis.

The man known as ‘Robin’ was anything but a sidekick for Riga, as they went on to win their first World Tour event in Debrecen (Hungary Masters). Miezis’ teammate, Karlis Lasmanis took home the MVP honors, but it was the key passing and tone-setting that helped get the team over the hump.

Miezis registered 43 highlights (Dunks + Blocks + Key Assists +Tissot Buzzer Beaters), 12 more than the next player, Disco Domo Jones. His 3.6 highlights per game were also the highest in the field. His assists were both efficient and flashy, making it on to two separate Top-5 plays lists and making him one of the must-see players on the Tour.

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He must have studied at Hogwarts cause his dimes are pure magic 🎩✨ #3x3WT @miezis_n

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 Leading Points Per Game (21) – Ub

Despite only playing in one World Tour event, Ub (SRB) lit up the Hungary Masters. They went all the way to the championship game, defeating Jeddah and Novi Sad in the bracket before losing to Riga.

Ub was led by a balanced attack of Ivan Popovic (26 pts), Strahinja Stojacic (24 pts), and Miroslav Pasajlic(23 pts), knocking down clutch shots and bringing down giants.

There was no play bigger than Pasajlic's clutch game-winner against Dusan Bulut to advance to the final. The team made 19 2-pointers, shooting 37% from beyond the arc. They won every game before the limit, except of course their narrow 21-20 loss in the final against Riga.

 

 Tissot Fastest Games: Novi Sad

The Serbian powerhouse had the two fastest games of the World Tour, including the Tissot Fastest Game, defeating Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) in just 5:53 playing time.

The final score was 21-6, a near-identical 21-7 scoreline achieved earlier in the day vs. Humpolec Bernard (CZE). That game finished in a blistering 6:19.

Novi Sad would feature in four of the top 10 fastest games of the World Tour, coming out 2-2 in those games. It was not the most accomplished run for the 4-time World Tour winners, but we saw flashes of their dominance throughout the week.

 

Wilson sponsor logo - WT Hungary 2020
  • Tissot sponsor logo - WT Hungary 2020