Welcome to the first Rise 3×3 article on our news section! We feature content about 3×3 in the UK and around the world, including explainers, analysis and interviews. We do the same in our newsletter too, so make sure to for all the latest 3x3 news and follow our socials @rise3x3!
In our first post Martin talks about launching Rise 3x3 and what his plans are for 3x3 in the UK! For more information about Rise 3x3 and what we do, please get in touch any time by emailing us letshoop@rise3x3.com.
Firstly, I want to thank you for taking the time to support our launch. It’s been a long time in the making and I’m glad we can finally make it happen!
Creating a platform like this has very much been a dream of mine. Basketball has always been there for me, it’s always been the positive rock that I’ve needed.
I’ve seen the benefits basketball can bring to people and communities first hand – with RISE 3×3 now I get a chance to share that with even more people. Hopefully, we’ll grow the game and enable people to play, to coach, to run events, to be content creators, to do whatever they want to do and be whoever they want to be.
I've seen the benefits basketball can bring to people and communities first hand - from grassroots to elite sport - and with Rise 3x3 now I get a chance to share that...
My ‘origin story’
People would say I was obsessed with basketball. More often than not it was a quip, always said with a wry smile, but it just fueled me further. I loved having a niche, something I could focus on and engage in 100%, whether it was doodling NBA logos on my homework book or practicing shooting in the driveway.
It was my main sense of peace too – no matter the craziness, basketball always kept me calm and happy.
It was my main sense of peace too – no matter the craziness, basketball always kept me calm and happy.
As I grew-up, playing at school or recreationally at uni, I felt the energy of basketball, the benefits it brought me both physically and mentally. But above all, one thing stood out – the community.
No matter where I went, which court I went to, I met people from all walks of life and hooped with them, trash-talked and joked on the court. Some of my greatest friends and greatest chats have come from basketball.
The 3×3 game
When my friend George passed away in 2017, it was the incentive to create my first tournament and it was my first foray into 3×3. In 2017, 3×3 was still a fairly new sport but the potential was obvious. A simple, accessible, fast-paced game, it was the perfect sport for a modern player and consumer of the game. It’s an evolution of 5v5 while also being true to its routes.
It’s (3x3) an evolution of 5v5 while also being true to its routes.
In his memory, we created the George Goldstone 3×3 Tournament and it’s grown to be the biggest one day 3×3 tournament in the UK – and as part of the GG3x3 we’ve raised thousands for charity, run free clinics, partnered with borough and communities and brought basketball to people who would not have had the opportunity to play or enjoy its many benefits.
3×3 enabled me to pursue basketball more seriously and to consider the business-side.
I was fortunate to be the lead consultant on the first permanent 3×3 courts ever built in the UK in partnership with Anglia Ruskin Writtle and that lead to the creation of the LDN Warriors 3×3 team, not just the only semi-professional team in the UK made of amazing staff and players, but a family of people sharing the belief that 3×3 can take us to new heights.
Launching RISE 3×3
The concept behind RISE 3×3 is simple. It’s a platform that provides the 3×3 basketball tools, services and motivation to enable anyone interested in 3×3 to pursue it further. Whatever you do – whether you’re a player, coach, event organiser or content creator (and whatever your background or ability) we can help you do more, be better and help you and others achieve their potential.
Whatever you do – whether you’re a player, coach, event organiser or content creator (and whatever your background or ability) we can help you do more, be better and help you and others achieve their potential.
Our vision is to help redefine basketball in the UK, making it one of the most recognised, respected and played sports in the nation. We can do that from grassroots all the way to elite basketball.
And through 3×3 basketball, we’ll inspire the world by putting the UK on the global basketball map. We’ll enable people by creating opportunities and change a global communities’ lives for the better in the process.
Our principles:
R: We Raise eachother, our community and the game of basketball
I: We’re Innovative, we think and act creatively – for any problem, there is ALWAYS a solution
S: We’re Successful because ‘yes’ is always our first option
E: We Evolve – we’re adaptable to every situation
The fact that it’s 2024 is quite fitting, I was always a Kobe Bryant fan (he wore #24) and he once said that the greatest thing is to help others to achieve their greatness. I believe RISE 3×3 can do that, to help people be the best they can be.
If we do that, we all grow, we can all rise together. Looking forward to what’s ahead and hope you can share that journey with me.
Keen to chat 3×3? Email us here: letshoop@rise3x3.com and check-out our socials @rise3x3
Comments