Longtime NBA guard Roger Mason is leaving his position as the deputy executive director of the National Basketball Players Association to help launch a new professional basketball league for retired players, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. According to Wojnarowski, Mason will serve as president and commissioner of the new league.
As Wojnarowski details, Mason will partner with rapper and actor Ice Cube – and multiple investors – to launch the league in June 2017. The plan is for eight teams – made up of five players apiece – to tour together from city to city for 10 weeks in the summer, playing three-on-three, half-court games. The league, which will be known as TheBig3, is being founded by Ice Cube, who spoke to Wojnarowski about the project.
“I thought of this concept as a fan who got sick of seeing his heroes retire and not play anymore,” Ice Cube said. “A lot of these guys can still play once they retire – just not the back-to-backs or four games in five nights.
“Not only do we get a chance to see these guys keep playing, but we give guys who retired who still got some game – who don’t want to pick up a [microphone] on TV and who don’t want to go overseas to play … some of these guys still want a stage to play on.”
Per Wojnarowski, former NBA players who have committed to play on teams in the league include Kenyon Martin, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, Rashard Lewis, and Jason Williams. Additionally, Gary Payton has agreed to coach one of the teams.
As for Mason, he played a significant role in the NBPA’s transition over the last several years, and will leave the union as it prepares to officially ratify a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NBA. According to Wojnarowski, the NBPA’s focus on taking care of retired and elderly former players in the new CBA was in large part due to Mason.
An official news conference to announce TheBig3 is expected in January, says Wojnarowski.
Nate Robinson should join along with Antoine Walker
maybe not Antoine Walker
KG & Andrew Bynum haha
Who’s gonna pay for their medical coverage. They may have the passion and desire BUT,,,,,,,
Probably will still get better ratings than the WNBA.
Yup
Kansas City,St. Louis,Tampa Bay get a Team. Dennis Scott,Darrell Armstrong,Michael Jordan,Kenny Smith and so on play to.
Can’t wait to see the injury report after the first game
I would love to see Jason Williams play in a bigger light. Guy can still ball at his age.
But what about koby Bryant and Ray Allen they can play in that league right away.
Tim Duncan!!!
I can’t wait for this to happen. Hope it’ll be on reg. TV and not just once a week……..go for it.