Top men's players to watch at FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2022

GRAZ (Austria) - Superstars will be putting on a show during the most important 3x3 competition on the continent during the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2022 on September 9-11.

Played in a new iconic UNESCO World Heritage venue (Kasematten Schlossberg) in beautiful Graz, the seventh edition of Europe's showpiece event might just be the best ever.

With some of the best in action, the 3x3 Europe Cup will explode to new heights and let's take a look at the men's players that you will follow on IG by the end of the story.

Filip Krämer (Austria)

We just have to start with athletic marvel Filip Krämer, who has proven that he's the strongest Austrian since Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world's greatest action hero. 

In front of his home fans, the 6ft 8in (2.02m) high-flyer will be a man on a mission and that means trouble for opponents who should just move out of the way when Krämer is driving down the lane. 

When he gets the step, Krämer can rock those rims like it's a dunk contest and if he creates a personal jam session then Graz will be partying all event long. 

Thibaut Vervoort (Belgium)

Forget Better Call Saul . Because there hasn't been a better show in 2022 than the second season of Thibaut Vervoort aka 'Must See TV' who is now a champ on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour having led Antwerp (BEL) to a breakthrough title at the Debrecen Masters with an MVP performance. 

The 24-year-old is out for the crown and might just have a hand on it having dominated the stats on the pro circuit, where he is top of numerous categories including player value (260), top scorer (254) and highlights (142). 

He might look like a Calvin Klein model, but Vervoort turns into an angry beast when the game is on the line and no one hits daggers like this dude. Having tasted success on the World Tour, the 6ft. 5in (1.96m) Vervoort is craving glory on the national stage.

Don't bet against him. 

Nauris Miezis/Karlis Lasmanis (Latvia)

We just have to pair 3x3's greatest superhero duo after Batman and Robin successfully joined forces at the Montreal Masters. Karlis Lasmanis returned to playing the lead role with an incredible comeback MVP in a reminder that he's a bad man on the half-court. 

He seamlessly shared the spoils with his partner-in-crime Nauris Miezis, who was even deadlier with some of the pressure off his shoulders. It's a thing of beauty watching these two Tokyo Olympic gold medalists in tandem, who know each other so well like an old married couple. 

They can almost read each other's minds and if the duo fire simultaneously then Latvia are a good chance of winning their first Europe Cup since 2017 - the tournament that signaled the arrival of two new 3x3 superheroes. 

Strahinja Stojacic (Serbia)

Challengers have emerged far and wide, namely an improved Vervoort and comeback king Lasmanis, but No.1 ranked Strahinja Stojacic deserves his top dog status right now.

The spectacular Serb has already submitted one of the greatest 3x3 seasons with a trio of MVPs on the World Tour and playing a key part in Serbia's Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 victory. 

Think he's done? Think again. The 30-year-old will do everything he can to lead Serbia to a historic fourth straight 3x3 Europe Cup triumph. If he does that then 'Dr Strange' needs to change his nickname to 'Dr Success'. 

 Marijus Uzupis (Lithuania)

You know who is in video game mode right now? This lethal Lithuanian, who has selected heat mode because Marijus Uzupis is on fire with his sweet lefty stroke hitting nothing but net. 

The 29-year-old has fueled a Sakiai Gulbele (LTU) revival on the World Tour with an MVP performance at the Eaubonne Challenger and he probably would again have received top honors if his team had registered one more W in Montreal. 

We've seen him pull out the uzi on the biggest stage, where Uzupis was a key part of Lithuania's silver medal at the Crelan 3x3 World Cup 2022.

He proved a romantic off the half-court when he stole the show with the most memorable proposal. 

But Uzupis shows no love for opponents when the game is on the line, so expect a buzzer beater or two from this assassin in Graz. 

Dimeo van der Horst (Netherlands)

'Dimes' has perhaps been overshadowed in 2022 but through no fault of his own. He has the highest average on the World Tour for those who have played more than 10 games with an insane 7.4ppg. 

The Dutch Master is a verified walking bucket who simply keeps getting better and he can most definitely be the best player on the half-court when he wants to. 

Get ready for his much-loved celebrations, which will be on repeat in Graz. You know the one, where van der Horst plays string music like he's dominating Guitar Hero.  

FIBA