A popular Canadian basketball influencer attracted a large crowd at a neighbourhood court in Upper Serangoon on October 7, highlighting the growing local interest in one-on-one street basketball. Matt Kiatipis, known as MK, drew around 400 spectators to the Lorong Lew Lian basketball court as he held a one-on-one challenge event.

By 5:30 p.m., the court and its surroundings were already crowded with approximately 150 mostly youthful fans, many in school uniforms, eager to secure front-row positions. The audience expanded steadily, with onlookers gathering along corridors and balconies of nearby Housing Board flats. The crowd began chanting in support as Kiatipis arrived clad in a white San Antonio Spurs jersey featuring Victor Wembanyama’s name.

Throughout the 90-minute event, the 26-year-old online personality selected local players directly from the crowd to compete against him, engaging in spirited banter, aggressive play, and showmanship. Police arrived around 7:30 p.m. to help maintain order due to the size and enthusiasm of the crowd.

Kiatipis had initially planned to hold the challenge at Chinatown Complex’s rooftop court the previous day, but the event was postponed after the crowd grew uncontrollably large and police intervention became necessary.

The event caught many residents by surprise, with several looking out from their windows or approaching the court to inquire about the gathering and Kiatipis’s presence. The influencer later shared his excitement on social media, crediting the turnout as exceeding expectations despite the event being announced just six hours beforehand. He also indicated plans for two additional one-on-one events.

Among the participants was 20-year-old student Nihal Hamid from PSB Academy, who described the experience as memorable and appreciated the local basketball community’s strong support. He noted the spirited “trash talk” exchanged during his match with Kiatipis, emphasizing the competitive but friendly nature of the event.

Another participant, 16-year-old Austyn Campbell, a student from Stamford American International School and originally from the United States, described the large crowd and experience as “unforgettable” and contrasted the turnout favorably with Kiatipis’s earlier event in Chinatown.

Originating from Newmarket, Ontario, Kiatipis has amassed 3.5 million Instagram followers by posting videos of one-on-one basketball challenges at outdoor courts worldwide. His athletic background includes college basketball at Simon Fraser University in Canada and a U.S. school, though his playing career was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a brief professional stint in Costa Rica, Kiatipis transitioned into content creation.

He has expressed a mission to develop one-on-one basketball into a distinct sport that is more accessible than traditional five-on-five or 3x3 formats. “Before, it was like five-on-five in the street, and then I condensed it down to one-on-one, where more people could play,” he said before the event. Kiatipis envisions expanding the concept into other sports and sees the activity as a way to unify diverse communities.

Singapore marked the second stop on his Southeast Asia tour. Prior to arriving in the city-state, Kiatipis held coaching sessions and competed against local players during the King of Ballers streetball event in Jakarta from October 1 to 3.