A new professional basketball league is set to debut this summer. Starting on June 24, former NBA players like Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Rashard Lewis, Mike Bibby, Chauncey Billups, Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Jackson, and Jason Williams will play in the new BIG3 league, created by rapper and actor Ice Cube, along with former NBA guard Roger Mason.
The league will feature eight teams made up five players apiece. The half-court, three-on-three games won’t be timed — the first team to 60 points will win, and teams will have the opportunity to get to 60 even faster with new wrinkles like a designated “four-point circle.” TNT’s David Aldridge has several details on the BIG3 in his latest NBA.com piece, and spoke to some of the players and organizers about the new league.
[RELATED: Allen Iverson commits to new BIG3 league as player/coach]
“This (bleep) isn’t any kind of gimmick,” said Mason, who will serve as the league’s president. “JO was like, ‘There’s nobody who can guard me in halfcourt.’ Gilbert Arenas is in the gym every day; he doesn’t even want anybody to know he’s playing.
“This is going to last beyond Cube, me, Jeff (Kwatinetz). This is the new thing. Every year there’s new players that still have some gas still in the tank. Maybe they can’t play back-to-backs. Maybe they can’t do the full wear and tear of an 82-game season. But it’s not like, after 10 to 12 years in the NBA, that their fans forget about them. And it’s not like their game goes to (bleep). They don’t have the athleticism. But in a halfcourt game, one game a week? They still have something to offer. We’re just the landing spot for those guys.”
The league, which will travel to a different city each week, has yet to announce a broadcasting deal, but games are expected to be televised or streamed somewhere. So today’s poll question is this: Will you check out the BIG3 when it gets underway? Will the big-name former players be enough to draw you in, or do you prefer to stick to watching current NBA players?
Vote below, and jump into the comments section to weigh in with your thoughts!
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I think it’s a pretty cool concept. They’d have to draw a couple bigger names to really gain traction though. Maybe a Shaq or Kobe or someone.
Someone in addition to Iverson, I mean. Billups is nice, but you aren’t drawing in younger crowds with Iverson and Billups.
That’s true only diehard NBA fans know who these players are (other than billups and iverson)
Should be a 3 on 1 league, and the 1 should be Jordan.
I’m excited for this.
I wouldn’t mind checking it out if it’s easily available for streaming. I like the once a week aspect of it the most. Don’t have to worry about figuring out who plays when, just tune in the right day at the right time and watch all the old dudes ball out.
I’ll check it out and see what’s good. I don’t have high expectations though.
I’ll definitely check it out. Could be cool, and the NBA could kind of see how some rules would work like the 4 point area concept.
Baron Davis needs to join
I would watch it but they need a better name than BIG3. With all the NBA alumni they may as well call it the retirement league, or Retro. maybe the Expendables?
Also there are some current NBA players that need to move over to this league already: looking at you, Vince Carter.
Perhaps Jason Kidd can fit time in his schedule to pop over and play a few games when he isn’t coaching.
Stupid
Any one know how these games are going to be televised or what channel it would be on? Haven’t heard of anything about where these games will be available to watch.