When Jérôme Desrosiers isn’t jet-setting across the globe playing 3x3 basketball, he’s at home creating Lego masterpieces for his YouTube channel, DiscoBrix. But make no mistake: the 6-foot-7 Montreal native’s true passion lies in the fast-paced world of 3x3 basketball.

Desrosiers first picked up a basketball as a kid in Montreal, eventually earning a spot at a Massachusetts prep school at just 15. From there, he landed at Princeton University, where his college career was unexpectedly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Covid kind of messed up everything,” said Desrosiers. “[It] messed up my senior year up a little bit, so I got recruited to go to Hawaii, [where] I had one extra year. I did my Masters there, and then I was a graduate assistant.”

This change ended up being a blessing in disguise.

While in Hawaii, Desrosiers discovered 3x3 basketball, thanks to fellow Princeton alum Kareem Maddox, who played for Team USA. Maddox connected him to a 3x3 camp, and Desrosiers quickly fell in love with the game.

“Then I kind of started learning about the game…playing it, and I really liked it,” said Desrosiers. “So, I was like, I'm just going to stick to this.”

Desrosiers has since spent three years competing in 3x3, recently joining Canada’s national team. In May, they travelled to Hungary for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, a stepping stone in Canada’s push to make 3x3 a global contender.

“It's always good to represent your country… just wish we could have, you know, qualified,” explained Desrosiers. “That means we just have another four years to work at it and qualify for LA 2028.”

The next step in the path to qualification starts now for Jerome and the 3x3 Men’s National Team – as they land in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2024. After participating in a training camp in Toronto a week ago, Desrosiers says the team is in good spirits.

“Lots of excitement [around training camp]... it's a lot of learning obviously, because some guys are not so exposed to 3x3 – they're moving from 5x5 to 3x3,” explained Desrosiers. “A lot of teaching, a lot of learning, understanding nuances of the game, there's different reads, you know, but it's been good.”

Some of the principles the team worked on heading into the AmeriCup included physicality, running actions, and managing emotions. “If you spend too much time looking at the ref, turning around being frustrated…you're not gonna win any games, right?”

The FIBA 3x3 Men’s AmeriCup 2024 runs from December 12-15, and Canada sits in Pool C with Argentina and one of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Costa Rica, who will compete in qualifying draw action for a berth in the event. 

Being on the road to play 3x3 basketball is something that Desrosiers is used to – and he’s picked up a few hobbies and tricks along the way.

Off the court, Desrosiers built a following on his YouTube channel, DiscoBrix, where he and his dog, Disco, combine their love for Lego and storytelling. It’s a creative outlet that mirrors his basketball journey—one brick at a time.

His favourite build so far? The 1989 Batmobile.

“It’s really fun. You know, they always come out every year with cooler sets that you're just like, oh boy, it's going to be a tough one on the wallet,” Desrosiers said, laughing.

All is fair in Lego and basketball – Desrosiers is helping build Canada’s future, one game – and one brick – at a time.