In late 2016 Ice Cube announced the formation of the BIG3. Teaming with Roger Mason, retired shooting guard for the NBA and the former deputy executive director of the NBA Players Association, the BIG3 is a three-on-three, half-court basketball summer league that will feature players who have either retired from the NBA or are currently not in the league.
The BIG3 held its first-ever draft yesterday (April 30th), and the likes of Allen Iverson, Charles Oakley, Jason Williams and others will play and be coached alongside the likes of Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Clyde Drexler, George Gervin and Gary Payton among others.
More whimsical fun than an actual serious league, the rules for the BIG3 differ greatly from other summer leagues: shots can be worth up four points, hand-checking is allowed, and free throws are entirely different. While with actor Michael Rapaport, Cube expounded upon the rules of the BIG3, which can be seen below.
4-pointers. Hand-checking. That’s BIG3 basketball.@icecube & @MichaelRapaport break down the rules. pic.twitter.com/9NFlLS6eK2
— FS1 (@FS1) April 30, 2017
The eight-week first season kicks off June 25th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. A recap of its draft — as well as the draft results — can be seen down bottom.
