VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Last summer was an awakening of sorts for me, when I worked at the 3x3 Europe Cup in Bucharest.

Watching these players reminded me why I played basketball in the first place. 3x3 Basketball is fun! This was my favorite moment from that tournament.

This is how you 🤐 a crowd and 😱 the broadcaster #TBT #3x3Europe @russiabasket @JeffreyNTaylor pic.twitter.com/WTcyjxu2Ku

— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) April 13, 2017

That's what the 3x3 World Cup is going to have in abundance in Nantes 17-21 June. The action is going to be fantastic and it's all going to take place in a wonderful city that we visited last year for the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

From my experience of watching 3x3, there are certain things you must have to be successful. Players need to be versatile. Each and every one has to be able to stroke jump shots. All players have to be bold and take it to the rack. They have to be able to absorb contact when they drive to the basket. It can be a physical game.

Players have to be smart and figure things out for themselves because there are no coaches on the court.

At a tournament like the 3x3 World Cup, the team that has the most pressure on it is the host. When I looked at France's team for the 3x3 Europe Cup last year, I liked what I saw. Charles Bronchard, Anthony Christophe, Maxime Courby and Dominique Gentil showed a lot of potential. I especially liked the explosiveness of Gentil, a real rim-rocking dunker.

It's often assumed, and erroneously I might add, that a player in the 5x5 game can easily play the 3x3 game. There are some players in the France senior national team set-up, however, that could pull it off. I think I've got a Dream Team of sorts for the 3x3 World Cup. I'd like to see this team at the 3x3 World Cup.

Nando de Colo

I've never hidden my admiration and awe for one of the best all-round talents ever to come out of France. There is nothing that De Colo does not do well. He'd leave a lot of guys on their backsides with his crossover dribble and he can flat shoot the rock. De Colo can pass and he's big enough to guard anything. His one-on-one skills are unmatched, and that comes in handy when teams need to get a shot off quickly.

Nic Batum

Since he's taking this summer off and skipping the FIBA EuroBasket, I'm sure one of the most gifted and athletic players in international basketball could find the time to go to Nantes on a visit to France and wow the crowds. Batum is long, a terrific leaper and yes, he can put the ball in the basket. No player in the 3x3 game would have their way with Batum when he's on defense.

Charles Kahudi

You know what you get with Kahudi? You get toughness. This is an important element in 3x3. Your team needs an enforcer, especially on defense and Kahudi can meet that requirement. He's also athletic and a player with a lot of hops. JAM CITY! The workman-like performances of Kahudi, who leaves home with the hard hat and lunch pail every time he goes to practice or to games with France? I think that mentality makes him a perfect fit for France.

Fabien Causeur

Offensively, Causeur has all the tools. He'd be able to break down opponents off the dribble and hit step-back 2-pointers. He's got hang time. To continue with the trend of the first three players, Causeur does not lack flair in his game. Out of this four, he'd be the player you'd want to have the rock in his hands when the final seconds are ticking off the clock.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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