Dutch Siblings Dominate 3x3 Basketball, Eye LA28 Together

Twenty years ago, Jan Driessen wouldn't always let his little sister Noortje play basketball with him and their older brother on their backyard court. Today, the Dutch siblings are two of the world's best 3x3 basketball players, proving that early rivalry can fuel incredible success.

Jan won Olympic gold for the Netherlands at Paris 2024, hitting the court while Noortje cheered from home after the women's team missed qualification. Ten months later, Noortje became World Cup MVP as the Dutch women claimed their first global title, while Jan's team fell in the early rounds.

The siblings have become each other's biggest supporters and most trusted advisors. "When it's not going well and I'm really in my head, Jan really helps make it a bit smaller," Noortje says. "In the end it's still a game, and it's supposed to be fun."

This weekend, both are competing at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup in Antwerp, continuing the Netherlands' remarkable dominance in a sport where they saw potential long before other nations. The Dutch men have reached two World Cup finals and won multiple European medals, while the women are two-time Europe Cup champions and current World Cup holders.

The Netherlands' secret? They invested early when 3x3 basketball was still finding its footing globally. While the country has never been a traditional basketball power (the men's 5x5 team qualified for just one World Cup in 1986), Dutch basketball officials recognized 3x3's potential and committed resources when the discipline launched its first world championship in 2012.

The Ripple Effect

The Driessen family's success tells a bigger story about how strategic investment in emerging sports can transform a nation's athletic identity. By backing 3x3 basketball early, the Netherlands created pathways for players who might never have reached Olympic podiums in traditional formats.

Now both siblings are chasing the same dream: competing together at LA28. Jan has already tasted Olympic gold, while Noortje is hungry for her first Games appearance after watching her brother's Paris triumph from home.

"It would be amazing if we could both be there," Noortje says, her eyes lighting up at the possibility of sharing the Olympic stage with her brother.

The backyard court where Jan once excluded his little sister has become the foundation for a family dynasty that's rewriting Dutch basketball history, one tournament at a time.