Maybe the Nets didn’t make the NBA’s playoffs this season but Barclays Center will still be buzzing with professional basketball action next month as rapper, writer, actor and film producer Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson, Sr.) kicks off his new BIG3 Basketball League in Brooklyn on June 25.
The 3-on-3 professional basketball league featuring a number of well-known, retired NBA players along with former Hornets player, Roger Mason Jr. as the league’s President and Commissioner.
“It sucks to see your favorite players retire, it’s nothing good about it, especially when you know they still got game,” said Ice Cube during the January 11 press conference announcing the BIG3. The half-court league will consist of 8 teams coached by former NBA stars Allen Iverson, Charles Oakley, Gary Payton, George Gervin, Clyde Drexler, Rick Barry, Rick Mahorn and Julius “Dr. J” Irving.
Ice Cube also said it’s a no-brainer to kick off the league in Brooklyn. “Brooklyn has been on our radar since we started the BIG3. From the pickup courts to the pros, New York’s hoops history is unrivaled. Legends are born here, and kicking this thing off at the iconic Barclays Center could not be more fitting,” he said.
While Barclays Center will be the first stop of the league’s 10-week summer tour, each Sunday, for ten consecutive weeks, the league will compete in a new city, promising to deliver an exciting mix of halftime shows, superstar entertainment and an opportunity to see legendary basketball players compete.
Among the rules for the games includes a 4-point shot, 3-on-3-play format and no-foul-out policy. Former NBA stars Latrell Sprewell, J.R. Rider, Kenyon Martin, Kenny Anderson, Earl Boykins, Chauncey Billups and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf are amongst the signed BIG3 players on the rosters.
Adding further anticipation over the star-studded league, BIG3 signed an exclusive deal with Fox Sports and FOX. “This is an ideal fit for FS1,” said Charlie Dixon, FOX Sports EVP of Content/Original Programming. “It will be appointment viewing for any basketball fan, showcasing star-power, fiery personalities and classic matchups on the court.”
The league’s most recent high-profile addition occurred last week when Amy Trask, former owner of the Oakland Raiders, was introduced as its CEO. “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity to work with some sensational people and create something unique. The BIG3 shares many qualities with the Raiders – they’re both bold and exciting, with their own brand of attitude,” said Trask.
Tickets for the inaugural game at the Barclay Center are currently on sale at Ticketmaster or at http://www.barclayscenter.com/events/detail/big3-presents-brooklyn. For further information visit http://www.big3.com.
You can also check out the following trailer for the League:
