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They're a group of mates playing the sport they love.
That might sound simple, but in one of the fastest, most demanding formats of basketball, it could also be their greatest weapon.
Unlike traditional 5x5 Basketball, there are only four players in a 3x3 squad, with three on the court at any one time. There are no long benches to hide behind, and no lengthy timeouts to reset and catch your breath. Every possession matters, every decision is magnified and every player has to trust the people beside them.
For the New Zealand Team’s Aidan Tonge, it all starts with chemistry.
"It starts with the structure of the team and how you want to run that. Every team is different"
New Zealand has built an identity every player understands.
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That "big fella" is Tonge.
His job isn't to fill the scoresheet. It's to make the other three look good.
When everyone understands their role, something special starts to happen.
"The reads become more obvious, things start to flow and look more polished."
Those moments were on full display earlier this year when New Zealand stormed through the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, going undefeated on the way to claiming gold.
The highlight-reel plays that lit up social media, were the product of hours of training, trust and a shared understanding of each other’s game.
Christian Martin says that's exactly what makes the wins so satisfying.
"We've built a basketball system that allows everyone in the team to excel in their particular role."
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Like Tonge, Martin believes they succeed because everyone knows exactly how they contribute.
"Aidan's the point guard of the team. He's setting the others up, getting the screens and the assists. He's surrounded by three shooters who all excel in scoring from the two-point arc."
The culture, he says, is built around helping everyone thrive.
For Josh Book, the team's culture starts with the coaches.
He credits Piet Van Hasselt and Nikolay Mikhalchuk for creating an environment where everyone is invested in each other's success.
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Book also believes that brotherhood is now one of the team's biggest strengths.
"There's a type of brotherhood in the team that definitely affects the way we play together on the court."
In 3x3 Basketball, where three of the four players are on the court at any one time, chemistry is everything.
"It's super-fast paced and there needs to be a great level of communication," he says.
Remarkably, the quartet isn't based in the same city. Book lives in Christchurch, Martin in Dunedin, Tonge in Rotorua and Te Tuhi Lewis in Tauranga, but they stay connected through constant group chats and time together whenever they're on tour.
Their closeness also comes with plenty of banter. Book reckons roommate Christian Martin is "most likely to lose his swipe card", while Lewis says Martin has a knack for finding himself in funny situations.
Of course, spending that much time together doesn't mean they're joined at the hip.
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But, he quickly adds, "It's not like it's a chore. We actually really enjoy hanging out with each other. We're really good friends."
Behind the jokes is a level of trust Lewis believes sets the team apart.
"We understand each other so well that we can talk to each other straight. You don't get offended because everyone has the same goal."
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As the team looks ahead to Glasgow 2026, Book is excited to experience the wider New Zealand Team environment.
For Book, whose father Ed won Commonwealth Games silver in Basketball, representing New Zealand at the Games is especially meaningful.
"It's always a special feeling putting on the fern, no matter how many times you do it."
If their Asia Cup gold proved anything, it's that New Zealand's success has been built on more than talent.
Underneath the jokes and banter is a genuine brotherhood, and it's one of this team's greatest strengths.
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