DJ Stars, Aussie Women Shine

Saturday, June 3, 2023

It was a different stage to where NBL fans are used to seeing him play, but Daniel Johnson showed he still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

Currently uncontracted for the NBL24 season, the 414-game NBL veteran was one of the standouts during the pool stages of the tournament in Austria.

Representing the Australian Gangurrus, Johnson was the fourth top-scorer across all nations, averaging eight points a game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Goalkeepers would be proud of this save! ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3x3WC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3x3WC</a> <a href="https://t.co/ealJY8Gy0a">pic.twitter.com/ealJY8Gy0a</a></p>— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA3x3/status/1664656414449741824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The men’s team, which also featured 36ers star Mitch McCarron, bowed out of the tournament despite a big win over Slovenia in game three on Saturday morning, Australian time.

It was a different story for the Australian women though, winning three out of four games to advance to the Quarter Finals on Sunday.

Marena Whittle has been one of the stars of the pool stage, leading all scorers across the tournament with 10.8 points a game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Game winner and W for ??Australia<a href="https://twitter.com/BasketballAus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BasketballAus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3x3WC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3x3WC</a> <a href="https://t.co/9UiDv217LD">pic.twitter.com/9UiDv217LD</a></p>— FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA3x3/status/1664678938423984144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Anneli Maley, Alex Wilson and Lauren Mansfield have all played key roles in helping the Aussies claim top spot in Pool B.

Spain or Israel await in the next round, with a 2.20am AEST tip-off on Sunday morning.