23YO NBA Reject Makes a ‘Slamming’ Debut for USA in World Championship of 3×3 Basketball

19 years old and fresh out of high school in 2018, Jalen Lecque had natural athleticism. Promising talents, like Lecque, used to jump-start their career in the NBA straight from high school. This was until such norms were outlawed by the league in 2005. However, the catch was that the New Yorker was a year removed, making him eligible for basketball’s highest level. In fact, turning his back on a lucrative full-ride scholarship from North Carolina State, Lecque dreamed on, only for his dreams to end prematurely.

He was not drafted by any NBA team in 2019 but has made a stunning debut for the USA in the World Championship of 3×3 Basketball, selected as one of the four players to represent the USA in the inaugural edition of the 3×3 basketball event. The former NBA player who was waived by the Indiana Pacers in 2021, has found a new home in the 3×3 basketball scene. The 23-year-old guard made a stunning debut for the USA team in the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup, where he was seen showing sheer athleticism.

Debut highlights go viral on Twitter

According to the recent video shared by FIBA 3×3’s Twitter handle, Jalen Lecque was seen dunking with a full flight. This was from his first game for the USA team against Italy that went viral on Twitter, with more than 16.5k views, the video is being shared among the fans and his admirers. Throughout the match Lecque also displayed his defensive prowess, blocking a shot and stealing the ball on multiple occasions.

The video was shared by the official account of FIBA 3×3, the governing body of the 3×3 basketball discipline, which was introduced as an Olympic sport in 2018. The FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup is an annual tournament that features 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams from around the world, competing for the gold medal in a round-robin and knockout format.

Why was Jalen Lecque rejected by the NBA?

It was in the 2019-2020 season when Jalen Lecque had planned to join the North Carolina State Wolfpack as a college basketball player, but he changed his mind at the last moment and withdrew his commitment. He decided to enter straight to the 2019 draft after skipping college, with the hope of being picked by a team, but he was not selected by any of them on June 20.

Afterward, on July 6, the Phoenix Suns offered him a 4-year contract, with 2 years guaranteed. Lecque started his professional career with the Northern Arizona Suns, the Phoenix Suns’ affiliate team in the NBA G League, on October 28. He was occasionally called up to play for the Phoenix Suns during the season. He made his first appearance in an NBA game on January 16, playing for only two minutes in the Suns’ 121–98 victory over the New York Knicks.

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He has also attracted attention from NBA scouts and fans, who have praised his potential and improvement since his brief stint in the league. Lecque has expressed his interest in returning to the NBA someday, but for now, he is focused on helping his team win the gold medal in the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup.

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