The Territory Labor Government is bringing back the Arafura Games and today announced, alongside the National Basketball League, that the final event of the 2019 3x3 Pro Hustle Tour will be held as part of the 2019 Arafura Games.
The 2019 Arafura Games will be held over nine days, from 26 April to 4 May, 2019, with the 3x3 Pro Hustle Tour final taking place at Darwin Convention Centre on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April.
The event will see the best 3x3 players battling it out for a total prize pool of US$100,000, split equally across male and female categories.
The 3x3 Pro Hustle is the pinnacle of the sport in Australia, and the route for teams to make their way onto the prestigious FIBA World Tour where the prize money exceeds US$1 million.
3x3s growth in Australia coincides with the 3x3 Hustle pathway being launched by the NBL in conjunction with Basketball Australia.
As noted by Minister for the Arafura Games, Ken Vowles:
The 3x3 Pro Hustle Tour final is a fabulous addition to the Arafura Games schedule and will draw even more visitors and increase tourism spending for Darwin.
This is an exciting spectator sport and to see such prize money on offer in the Territory as part of the Arafura Games is sensational.
Alongside qualifying events for the World Games Muaythai competition in Birmingham 2021 and para table tennis in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, plus opportunities for athletes in other sports to record qualification results for events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olypmics, the 3x3 Pro Hustle Tour final is elevating the Arafura Games to a must-watch event.
As noted by Chairperson of the Basketball Northern Territory, Anne Coleman:
3x3 Hustle provides a pathway for aspiring basketball players across the Territory, from the grass roots level with Street Hustle all the way through to Pro Hustle at the elite level.
We acknowledge the great work NBL and Basketball Australia are doing to develop this exciting format of the game, which makes participation easier and more affordable.
As noted by NBL Chief Operating Officer, Andy Crook:
We are excited about the opportunity for Darwin to host the final event of the 2019 3x3 Pro Hustle Tour and thank the Northern Territory Government and Minister Vowles for their support.
Basketball is booming in Australia with more than one million people playing. Our national teams are winning medals all over the world, and the NBL is attracting record attendances and broadcast audiences.
The 3x3 Pro Hustle is fast, energetic and exciting. 3x3 will make its debut as an Olympic sport at Tokyo in 2020 and basketball will also adopt the 3x3 format for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. FIBA 3x3 Ranking points from the Pro Hustle will go towards Australia's qualification for the Olympics as well as individual athletes.
