5-on-5, 3x3 basketball: Olympic schedule, format, rules, more - ESPN

James Naismith invented basketball inside a Springfield, Massachusetts, gymnasium in 1891. By 1936, the game had become a global sport, making its Olympic debut at the Berlin Summer Games. Women's basketball followed 40 years later, debuting at the Montreal Summer Olympics.

With 3x3 basketball set to make its second straight appearance on the Olympic stage, it's clear the popularity of the sport is soaring worldwide.

But how will the basketball competitions at the 2024 Paris Olympics differ from the brand of basketball in the NBA, WNBA, BIG3 and other professional leagues?

Here's everything you need to know about basketball at the Olympics.

When will the basketball competitions take place at the 2024 Summer Olympics?

5-on-5

Contests will be held from July 27-Aug. 11. The men's medal games will take place Aug. 10, while the women's medal games will be held Aug. 11.

All times are ET

USA men's basketball is in Group C with Serbia and South Sudan. Here are the dates of the U.S. games:

July 28 vs. Serbia (11:15 a.m.)

July 31 vs. South Sudan (3 p.m.)

Aug. 3 vs. the winner of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament* (11:15 a.m.)

* Eight of 12 possible countries have qualified for the men's tournament. The final four spots will be decided at the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in July.

USA women's basketball is in Group C with Germany, Japan and Belgium. Here are the dates of the U.S. games:

July 29 vs. Japan (3 p.m.)

Aug. 1 vs. Belgium (3 p.m.)

Aug. 4 vs. Germany (11:15 a.m.)

3x3

The competition will be held from July 30-Aug. 5. The men's and women's medal games will take place Aug. 5.

All times are ET

USA men's schedule

July 30 vs. Serbia (4:35 p.m.)

July 31 vs. Poland (4:35 p.m.)

Aug. 1 vs. Lithuania (1:05 p.m.)

Aug. 1