McCarron ready for 3x3 debut in Vienna

Adelaide 36ers captain Mitch McCarron is ready to take on the world at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, which starts in Austria this week.

McCarron will make his 3x3 debut at the World Cup and he is excited to pull on the green and gold for the first time.

“It’s pretty exciting, this is something new that I’m not familiar with, but I have watched more and more over the years,” McCarron said.

“I’m keen to go over there and check it all out.”

There are 40 teams arriving in Austria's capital Vienna hoping to be crowned world champions and their dreams will be on the line at the eighth edition of 3x3's showpiece event.

Australia are seeded 17th for the tournament and are seen as outsiders in terms of the medal race and the side didn't qualify for the men’s pool in 2022 after a 10th place finish in 2019.

Men’s schedule
June 1 - Australia v USA (2.50am), Australia v Austria (5.10am)
June 3 - Australia v Slovenia (12.40am) and Australia v Latvia (3.15am)

Where can I watch?
The action runs from May 30-June 4, and you can follow it live on TV and on social media on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook. 

Who is competing?
There are 40 teams – 20 per gender – competing in Vienna, who qualified through being hosts (Austria), winning a Zone Cup from the previous year or by claiming a ticket at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifier 2023.

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 Who are the favourites?

In this unpredictable game, where 25 per cent of the games are decided by just one single basket, anything is possible. 

But that just makes Serbia's domination in the men's event even more extraordinary. They've won five of the previous seven World Cups in one of the most stunning records across all sports. 

Serbia are the defending champs having regained their crown last year in Antwerp and will bring back the same line-up, including Strahinja Stojacic, Dejan Majstorovic and Marko Brankovic who have already lit up the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023. 

But there are plenty of challengers starting with No.2 seeds USA aiming to restore the reputation of the hoops power after a few tough exit last year in the quarter-finals

They've loaded up with a couple of big guns you may have heard of - former NBA player Jimmer Fredette is teaming up with Dylan Travis and 3x3 World Cup winners Kareem Maddox and Canyon Barry.

It's hard to believe Latvia have never won a World Cup considering this 3x3 powerhouse have won almost every other trophy on offer.

You just know superheroes Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis will be tapping into their superpowers to win the medal they've always wanted. 

Other European heavyweights Belgium, Netherlands, Lithuania, France and hosts Austria will also have gold in their sights, while FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2023 champs Mongolia are looking for another win just two months after their heroics in Singapore.