Best Plays to Know For 3-ON-3 Basketball

Do you and your team want to compete at the Nike Basketball 3ON3 Tournament next year? You need to learn some plays and we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, below are some of the best and most effective plays for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Pick and Roll

This play involves two players using a pick-and-roll from the top of the key or on the wing. A pick-and-roll involves an offensive player setting a screen for a teammate that is in possession of the ball.

​Setup: Player 1 starts on the top of the key (the topmost point of the arched line that connects both sides of the free throw line) and players 2 and 3 stand on each of the wings​.

1. ​Player 1 starts with the basketball at the top of the key
2.  Either player 2 or player 3 moves to set the pick-and-roll for the player who is the ball handler
3. The ball handler then looks for scoring opportunities out of the pick-and-roll play, with the screener moving towards the basket 

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The Ram Screen

This play creates opportunities out of a pick-and-roll and is deemed as one of the most effective 3-on-3 basketball plays.

Setup: Player 1 starts on the top of the key and players 2 and 3 stand on each of the wings.

1. Player 1 starts with basketball at the top of the key. Players 2 and 3 cut to the middle of the court with player 3 cutting towards the low block. Then player 2 cuts towards the free throw line
2. Player 2 then turns and sets a screen for player 3 on the low block and clears towards a corner or towards the wing after the screen
3. Player 3 cuts off the screen and sprints towards the top of the key to set the pick and roll for player 1
4. Player 1 then looks for a scoring opportunity while player 3 goes towards the basket or tries to make a three-point shot 

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The Give and Go

This is an offensive play where a player passes the ball to a teammate and cuts towards the basket, breaking free from the defender, and looks for a return pass from his teammate for an opportunity to score.

​Setup: Player 1 starts at the top of the key and players 2 and 3 stand on each of the wings.

1. Player 1 starts the play by passing it to player 2
2. After the ball is passed, player 1 cuts towards the basket
3. If there is no opportunity for a pass and finish, player 1 then turns to set the cross screen for player 3
4. Player 3 then cuts off the back screen and moves towards the basket to receive a pass and finish with a layup
5. While this is happening, player 1 will attempt to cover player 3’s defender on the screen, allowing an opportunity for a pass and finish if player 2’s defender blocks the pass to player 3

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The Double Back Screen

This play consists of multiple back screens to attempt to get an open layup under the basket. In a back screen, also known as a blind screen, the screener sets a screen behind the defender.

​Setup: Player 1 starts at the top of the key and players 2 and 3 stand on each of the wings.

1. Player 1 chooses which side to start the play by dribbling towards one of the wings
2. The player that is on the ball side wing, such as player 2, will cut towards the opposite side to set the back screen for player 3
3. Player 3 then cuts to the basket off the back screen, looking to receive a pass, and scores if possible while player 2 goes to the top of the key to receive a pass for a potential shot
4. If the pass isn’t a good one, player 1 will then pass to player 2 at the top of the key
5. After the pass is made, player 1 then receives a back screen from player 3 and cuts under the rim to catch the basketball for an open layup  

Now that you are well versed in 3-on-3 plays, it's time to put these plays to the test at Nike  3ON3! We’ll see you in 2021!