Four teams will qualify based on the 1 November 2019world ranking list. Japan, as the host nation, is guaranteed one quota spot. Three teams will qualify through the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. This will be a 20-team tournament. NOCs already qualified through the ranking list will not be eligible to play in the OQT. The 20 teams for the OQT will consist of the OQT hosts, the three highest-placed teams at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, and 16 teams on the world ranking list. The first 10 quota spots for the OQT are open to any team that has not qualified for the men's Olympic tournament, but the remaining 10 spots are subject to two restrictions. First, an NOC that has a team qualified for the women's tournament is excluded from these restricted quota places. Second, no more than 10 NOCs from any given continent may compete at the OQT. The final quota place will be determined through the 2020 FIBA Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament. This will be a 6-team tournament. NOCs already qualified through the ranking list or the OQT will not be eligible to play in the UOQT. Further, any NOC that has had a men's or women's team play in the basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics or basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics tournaments is ineligible for the UOQT. The 6 teams for the UOQT will consist of the UOQT hosts and 5 teams on the world ranking list.
Table
World ranking
The top four teams on the FIBA 3x3men's basketball ranking list on 1 November 2019 will qualify for the Olympics. These rankings are also used to determine entrants to both the OQT and UOQT.
OQT
Teams already qualified for the Olympics are excluded. The hosts of the OQT, the top three teams from the World Cup, and 16 teams from the rankings will compete for 3 Olympic qualifying places. It was initially scheduled to be held from 18 to 22 March 2020. but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was initially scheduled to be held in Bangalore, India but the tournament was moved to Graz, Austria and will be held from 26 to 30 May 2021. Games will be held at a temporary makeshift 2,000-seat capacity at the Hauptplatz.
Qualified teams
Results
UOQT
Teams already qualified for the Olympics are excluded. NOCs which have had teams in either the men's or women's competitions at the 2012 or 2016 Olympics are also excluded, except for Japan. The hosts of the UOQT and five teams from the rankings will compete for one Olympic qualifying place.
