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SPORTS Saturday 24 June 2017

Ice Cube has big expectations for his Big3 3-on-3 league

By BRIAN MAHONEY the competitive nature
AP Basketball Writer is always there and I saw
NEW YORK (AP) — Ice Cube that in the promo game,
is not planning an old tim- the preseason game,” he
er’s tour. He isn’t interested said. “Maybe the first two,
in All-Star Game intensity. three minutes going into
Players coming out of re- it, guys kind of eased into
tirement for his new 3-on- it to get a feel for it and
3 basketball league were try to understand how the
told they would need to 3-on-3 is going to work. But
deliver serious competition once guys started knocking
— and some were turned down shots or defending
away when their bodies you, that competitive na-
weren’t up for it. The prod- ture kicked out because it’s
uct needed to be worthy a defensive challenge. You
of a sport that’s so popular have to really play defense
around the world that it’s because pretty much it’s
ticketed for the next Olym- a wide-open court when
pics. you’re playing 3-on-3.”
So when the Big3 debuts Cube and Kwatinetz
Sunday in New York, it will leaned on their fellow
not be a bunch of former league executives, former
players going through the NBA player and Players As-
motions. Cube expects sociation executive Roger
them to be going all out, In this Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, far left, and Ice Cube, Mason, Jr. and longtime
second from right, pose with former NBA players Kenyon Martin, second from left, Allen Iverson,
perhaps believing they can third from left, Rashard Lewis, third from right, and Roger Mason, far right, after a press conference Oakland Raiders CEO Amy
get another shot at the announcing the launch of BIG3, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league, in New York. Trask, in developing the
NBA or maybe even a gold Associated Press structure and format of the
medal. league.
“I think it’s going to be a Rick Mahorn and Iverson agement of trash talking. best 3-on-3 basketball play- Players will compete for a
treat for the fans and it’s — who is a coach and “Our rules are funner than ers in the world,” Cube said. revenue share based on fi-
not an All-Star Game,” the captain, meaning he can the FIBA rules. Big3 is going “So it’s conceivable that nal league standings. And
actor and entertainer said. complain to himself about to be the most enjoyable one day they could com- if they aren’t a captain or
“Guys want to win. They practice . Each roster of 3-on-3 to watch at the end pete for the United States co-captain and their teams
want to be champions. five players includes a cap- of the day,” Cube said. for the gold medal and all don’t make the champion-
They want to be the first tain and co-captain. “We’re allowing hand that.” ship game, Cube said play-
champions, so I’m not wor- The league, founded by checking. We’re not doing Lewis was a two-time All- ers will go back into the
ried about that at all.” Cube and entertainment that so the game can be Star who averaged nearly draft pool for next season
The eight-team league of executive Jeff Kwatinetz, rougher. We’re doing that 15 points in the NBA and — meaning they may not
ex-NBA players, highlighted got the boost it needed to ensure great defense so played in the Finals for the even be assured a job.
by Hall of Famer and former when it landed Iverson. it’s not a dunkfest.” Miami Heat in 2014 in his fi- “We’ve done everything to
MVP Allen Iverson, begins Most of the other players FIBA has pushed 3-on-3 as nal season, giving him one incentivize hard play and
with four games at Barclays would be classified as NBA a way to get more young of the best resumes among guys to go for it,” Cube said,
Center in Brooklyn. It will journeymen, but Kwatinetz players involved in the the players in the Big3. He “and we’ve seen a few
play on nine more week- said the game was more game, and its persistence had wanted to play a little scrimmages and these are
ends throughout the U.S. important than the name. paid off when the game longer in the NBA before some of the most intense
and broadcast each Mon- “Ultimately getting names was added for the 2020 hurting his knee, so figured 3-on-3 basketball games
day night on FOX Sports 1, is important. More impor- Olympics in Tokyo. Success playing halfcourt would be I’ve ever seen in my life.”
culminating in the Aug. 26 tant is that the competition has been limited for men’s a perfect way to continue “This is, if you think about it,
championship game in Las is great, that people love teams from the U.S., where without the wear and tear. 3-on-3 is the most-played
Vegas. the basketball,” he said. top players favor stan- Then he saw how seri- sport in the world and the
Former top players such as Games will be played to 60 dard 5-on-5 competition, ous guys were when they fact that there wasn’t a
Jermaine O’Neal, Rashard points, with halftime when but Cube thinks his players played preseason scrim- professional 3-on-3 league
Lewis and Mike Bibby are the first team reaches 30. could be the answer. mage games and realized in the United States is shock-
playing captains, while There will be some gim- “I think you’ll have a league he needed to get himself in ing but left a real opportu-
coaches include Julius Er- micks that separate it from where guys are thinking 24- better shape. nity if we were really com-
ving, Rick Barry, George the official international 7, 3-on-3 basketball and “I think that’s the thing is us mitted to doing it right and
Gervin, Gary Payton, Clyde basketball version, such as I believe they’re going to as athletes, especially play- the players stepped up,
Drexler, Charles Oakley, a 4-point shot and encour- end up being some of the ing professional basketball, which they have.”q