Basketball. A sport of strategy, teamwork, and moments of individual brilliance. But what if… what if the game was stripped of its complex tactics? What if one player's sheer talent could dictate the entire flow of a match unshackled by rigid systems, driven solely by their skill?
Some people dared to imagine it.
And from that question, a new world was born the World Basketball Association, or as it's now known across continents, WBA.
Their vision? To elevate the purest form of basketball: 3v3, where the court is tighter, the tempo faster, and every second offers a chance for one player to become a legend. The format exploded in popularity so fast, even the Olympic Games couldn't ignore it they officially adopted 3v3 basketball as a competition format.
Now, the WBA stands as the ultimate proving ground. A global league divided into three tiers, where only the finest clubs from each country are granted entry. Each nation may send just one team, selected through fierce national competitions. The elite of the elite compete in Division One, featuring powerhouse teams from the USA, Spain, Lithuania, Serbia, France, Italy, China, and Brazil.
• Division One: 8 elite teams.
• Division Two: 10 rising contenders.
• Division Three: 12 aspiring challengers.
At the end of every season, the top two clubs from each division face off in Promotion Matches against the bottom two teams from the division above. Win, and they rise. Lose, and they remain where they are hungry and chasing again next season.
Yet promotion isn't the only prize. Throughout the season, every team regardless of rank is invited to the grandest stage of all: the Championship Series. Here, under the world's gaze, they battle for the coveted title of World's Best Club.
But this league is ever changing. Every four seasons, teams are reshuffled. Underperforming clubs may lose their spot if they fail to impress in their home leagues. Survival is a privilege, not a guarantee.
Each club begins the season with five registered players. However, the number of new player contracts depends on their division ranking.
• Division One clubs may sign up to three new players.
• Division Two: two contracts.
• Division Three: only one.
For many young prospects, WBA is a stepping stone a launchpad into the spotlight, a chance to showcase their abilities before entering the NBA. But stardom has its price. Most rising stars leave after a season or two, chasing bigger dreams and brighter lights. That's why many WBA teams turn to unknown talents, scouring the globe for diamonds in the rough.
The WBA may not yet rival the NBA in fame or prestige but in raw intensity, in the hunger to prove oneself on a global stage it stands as one of the most electrifying leagues the basketball world has ever seen.
This story begins on one sunny day in Serbia.
The late afternoon sun bathed the square of a quiet Serbian town in a soft golden hue. The breeze was gentle, enough to carry the scent of roasted coffee and warm stone. Amid the slow hum of daily life, two figures stood still, as if the world had paused just for them.
The first stood at around 190 centimeters, lean yet composed. He wore a deep brown button up shirt, loose and slightly crinkled in a way that made it look effortlessly stylish. The beige linen trousers he paired it with draped naturally around his frame, soft and wide legged, fluttering slightly with every movement. A dark leather shoulder bag rested at his side, heavy with mystery, while sleek white sneakers completed the understated yet magnetic look. His dark hair, parted cleanly down the middle, framed his thoughtful expression.
This was Vinnie.
Beside him stood a towering figure, even taller than Vinnie by a full head
around 206 or 207 cm, but far from imposing. Hao had a slender build, long limbed and wiry, with a quiet stillness in the way he held himself. His clothes were simple: a plain white T-shirt, light and soft against the heat, and a pair of casual shorts, barely brushing past his knees. He looked like someone who didn't need fashion to stand out his height did that for him.
The two stood there in silence, the square slowly spinning around them with the life of a lazy summer afternoon.
Then, Vinnie broke the silence.
"Hao, wait. I'm gonna grab a quick coffee before we start scouting."
Without another word, he turned and walked off toward a nearby café, the gentle tap of his footsteps melting into the ambient sounds of the street. The sun caught the edge of his sunglasses as he disappeared through the café's doorway.
Hao stayed where he was, hands in his pockets, watching.
He didn't speak. He didn't need to.
He told to himself basketball could wait.
As soon as Vinnie had his coffee in hand hot, bitter, just how he liked it the two of them made their way down the sunlit sidewalk, the worn pavement leading toward a nearby high school gym.
"So, Hao…" Vinnie began, taking a sip as they walked. "Just how good is this kid you told the coach about? I mean, Coach said we can offer him a contract on the spot if we're both blown away. But I gotta say... something feels off."
Hao glanced sideways, curious. "Off how?"
"I mean" Vinnie raised a brow behind his sunglasses, " we're heading to some random friendly game. Not a tournament. Not a national stage. Just a high school scrimmage. Shouldn't there be nationals happening right now? Don't tell me his team didn't even make it past regionals."
There was a beat of silence. Then Hao shrugged, casual as ever.
"To be honest… I didn't know they got knocked out early," he admitted. "Haven't really talked to him in a while. But I know the guy. That's why I gave his name to Coach. Maybe this is his shot."
Vinnie gave a long, thoughtful sip of his coffee, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his shades.
"Huh… well, alright. Let's just hope your 'gut feeling' doesn't disappoint me."
Moments later, they arrived at the old gym entrance, the metal door just slightly opened.
The moment had come.
Here, in this ordinary building, someone's fate would be decided.
A contract. A dream.
Or… nothing at all.