Top players to watch at FIBA 3x3 World Tour Shanghai Masters 2023

SHANGHAI (China) - The FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023 travels to a glitzy destination as some of the best players on the planet prepare to entertain a whole new legion of fans at the Shanghai Masters on October 15-16.

Here are the players you just have to watch.

Quincy Diggs (Austria) 

We have to start with the reigning MVP after Quincy Diggs put on a show at the Amsterdam Masters to lead Vienna to the crown.

Diggs proved exactly why he's the No.1 ranked American player with an unstoppable performance to claim the World Tour's top prize for the first time.

We have known for some time that the 6ft. 6in (1.98m) dynamo is all buckets, but he needed this type of domination on the big stage to truly show he could get to that top tier level. 

Diggs has a golden chance to further elevate his standing by going back-to-back - a feat not too many players have achieved in World Tour history.

 

 Karlis Lasmanis/Nauris Miezis (Beijing)

The superhero duo are set to dust off their capes in time to dazzle the local fans desperate to see this much hyped team go all the way on the World Tour. 

They will be extra determined to recapture their superpowers after Beijing fell at the first hurdle in Amsterdam. But these Olympic gold medallists have conquered basically everything in their storied career. 

A title with their new team on the Chinese half-court will add another memorable chapter for these caped crusaders. 

 

Stefan Milivojevic (Partizan)

The 26-year-old has been one of the best newcomers on the pro circuit this season.

As he showed in Amsterdam with another lights out shooting display to finish with 32 points, including 37% from deep.

This sizzling Serb has been an assassin in his debut season with an average of 6.7 ppg and nailing 39% from 2. 

If he continues to go bang, bang then we might be calling him MVP Milivojevic. 

Delgernyam Davaasambuu (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy)

You know him as 'The Bull' but he could easily be called 'The Bully' because the 6ft. 4in (1.93m) Davaasambuu loves to play bully ball.

He's almost always the strongest dude to step on the half-court and will test his strength against anyone who dares challenge him in Shanghai.

The heart and soul of every team he's played for, Davaasambuu still has so much motivation because he's desperate to see Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy finally be crowned Masters champs. 

Thibaut Vervoort (Futian)

Without sidekick Dimeo van der Horst, it's time for Thibaut Vervoort to become 'Must See TV'. 

It's been an up and down season for Vervoort, who is hoping to explode in front of the passionate fans willing Futian on .

He's still been getting his share of points, but the Belgian's radar from deep has been off all season.

On the pro circuit he's shooting 25% from 2 but it drops further to just 18% on the World Tour. 

We're tipping he rediscovers the shooter's touch and that spells trouble for opponents.

Nesta Agasi (Utrecht)

We've seen glimpses of the next big thing in Dutch 3x3. This insanely talented 23-year-old will make jaws drop due to his crazy athleticism. 

The 6ft. 7in (2m) Agasi is something of a 3x3 unicorn because he has the length to be an absolute menace on O and D. 

We're waiting for an invitation to his breakout party and perhaps it will arrive in Shanghai.

 

James Parrott (Omaha)

The 6ft. 4in (1.93m) Parrott is a certified bucket getter. Don't believe us then look at the stats, where he's averaging 7.6 ppg on the pro circuit, including 33% on 2.

His sole appearance on the World Tour was in Mexico City in 2021, but Parrott has gone up several levels since. 

We can't wait to see him back on the big stage. 

Tomoya Ochiai (Saitama ALPHAS EXE)

The Japanese OG will be slithering his way into Shanghai. You just know 'The Worm' will be ready to ball out and unleash some of his greatest hits - those unstoppable moves that have fooled so many opponents. 

We can't wait for him to perform his latest magic trick as he eyes a giant-killing run for Saitama ALPHAS EXE.

 

Elly Randriamampionona (Antananarivo)

We've seen the 26-year-old dominate the Africa Cup and this scoring machine can get to the rack quicker than you can say his name. 

Randriamampionona's next challenge is to prove he can dominate outside of Africa. His World Tour debut is set to be electric and we can't wait to see if he can handle the pressure. 

One thing is for certain - get used to pronouncing Elly Randriamampionona because he's just getting started. 

 

FIBA