3x3 basketball

noun

A coach-less (no in-game coaching) form of basketball, with 2 opposing sides of 3 on-court players at a time on a side, on a court with a single basket, half the size of a regular basketball court, where defenders and attackers switch during play.

Similar
3-a-side basketball3-on-3 basketball3x33X3 basketballbasketball 3'sbasketball 3sbasketball threesthree-a-side basketball

Meanings

3x3 basketball1

noun3x3 basketball (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehobbiesA coach-less (no in-game coaching) form of basketball, with 2 opposing sides of 3 on-court players at a time on a side, on a court with a single basket, half the size of a regular basketball court, where defenders and attackers switch during play.

    Synonyms: 3-a-side basketball, 3-on-3 basketball, 3x3, 3X3, 3X3 basketball, basketball 3's, basketball 3s, basketball threes

3X3 basketball2

noun3X3 basketball (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of 3x3 basketball.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA coach-less (no in-game coaching) form of basketball, with 2 opposing sides of 3 on-court players at a time on a side, on a court with a single basket, half the size of a regular basketball court, where defenders and attackers switch during play.

Similar
3-a-side basketball3-on-3 basketball3x33X33X3 basketballbasketball 3'sbasketball 3sbasketball threesthree-a-side basketballthree-on-three basketball

Origin

From 3 (“three”) + X (“cross, by, against”) + 3 + basketball. From being a form of basketball with three players facing three players on the two sides.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish 3x3-koripallo
  • 3x3-koripalloa basketball game with 3 players per side
French basketball 3 contre 3, basketball 3x3
  • basketball 3 contre 3a basketball game with 3 players per side
  • basketball 3x3a basketball game with 3 players per side
Japanese 3x3 (surī-ekkusu-surī)
  • 3x3 (surī-ekkusu-surī)a basketball game with 3 players per side
Korean 3x3 농구
  • 3x3 농구 (samdaesam nonggu)a basketball game with 3 players per side
Cite this entry
APA

3x3 basketball. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/3x3%20basketball

MLA

“3x3 basketball.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/3x3%20basketball. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “3x3 basketball,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/3x3%20basketball.

Source: 3x3 basketball on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.