Ayrton Oneill
Rapper, actor, and hip-hop icon Ice Cube has revolutionized basketball with his league, BIG3. Co-founded with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league that debuted in 2017 and features former NBA players and international stars. With its unique rules, such as a 4-point shot and a rapid 14-second shot clock, the league offers a fresh and exhilarating twist to the sport, providing a competitive arena for retired NBA players and a new experience for fans during the NBA offseason. Ice Cube's vision for the league extends beyond the game, as he aims to expand the league, engage local markets, and foster a movement that celebrates the talent and legacy of basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the league | BIG3 |
| Year founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Format | 3-on-3 basketball |
| Player eligibility | Former NBA players and international players |
| Rules | Deviations from official 3-on-3 basketball rules, including a 4-point shot and a 14-second shot clock |
| Season timing | During the NBA offseason |
| Age limit | Lowered to 22 in 2020 |
| Tryouts | Open tryouts instituted in 2020 |
| Rule set | Fireball3 introduced in 2020 |
| Broadcast partners | CBS Sports, Triller, FITE TV, DAZN, Vyre Network, YouTube |
| Streaming service | Big3tv |
| Trophy | Named after Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Julius Erving since 2018 |
| Notable players | Dwight Howard, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Caitlin Clark |
| League leadership | Ice Cube (CEO as of 2021), Jeff Kwatinetz (President as of 2021) |
| Ownership | Sold four franchises to ownership groups in Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, and Detroit |
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What You'll Learn
Ice Cube's BIG3 league
Ice Cube, the hip-hop musician and actor, co-founded the BIG3 basketball league with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The 3-on-3 basketball league debuted in 2017 and consists of 12 teams, including former NBA players and international players. The BIG3 has been a travelling road show, visiting a different city each summer weekend. However, the new model will see the league travelling only to markets with a team.
The BIG3 league has a unique set of rules that deviate from the official FIBA 3-on-3 basketball regulations. In 2020, the league announced that its rules would be the foundation of a new basketball variant called Fireball3. The BIG3 also has its own awards, including Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, 4th Man, and Defensive Player of the Year.
The inaugural BIG3 Championship game in 2017 saw Trilogy defeat the 3 Headed Monsters 51-46, with Rashard Lewis of the 3 Headed Monsters taking home the Most Valuable Player award. In 2018, the league's trophy was named after Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Tri-state head coach Julius Erving. The Power were the champions that year. The Triplets won in 2019, and the Trilogy earned their second and third trophies in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Enemies were the champions in 2023, and Bivouac took the trophy in 2024.
BIG3 has had various broadcast deals with networks like CBS Sports and digital media partnerships with platforms like Triller and FITE TV. In 2024, Ice Cube offered Caitlin Clark a $5 million private contract to play in the BIG3, recognising her as a "generational athlete". That same year, Ice Cube and Kwatinetz sold four of the league's 12 franchises to ownership groups in Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, and Detroit for approximately $10 million each, with the goal of expanding the league and engaging local markets.
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Rules and gameplay structure
Ice Cube, alongside entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, founded the BIG3, a 3-on-3 basketball league. The league consists of 12 teams, including retired NBA players and international players. BIG3 games are played to a target score, usually set at 50 points, with the winning team needing to win by a margin of at least two points. This format speeds up the game, heightens the intensity, and demands quick decision-making from the players, making every second thrilling for both players and spectators.
The BIG3 league features a rapid 14-second shot clock, in contrast to the NBA's 24-second timer. The three-point line is the same distance as in the NBA, but a longer shot counts as four points. A foul can be challenged by the "Bring the Fire" rule once per half, with the two players going one-on-one to determine its validity.
The BIG3 league has a short season of weekly games involving every team at a given location. For example, Ice Cube's team, the LA Riot, hosts one day of three or four games and plays the rest of the two-month season on the road. The season is followed by two weeks of playoffs. The league has also introduced rules and concepts to make the game fan-friendly, such as allowing players as young as 22 to compete and instituting open tryouts for league players.
The BIG3 has experienced significant growth and impact on the world of basketball. It has expanded its reach to cities across the United States and internationally, with games taking place in London, Toronto, and the Bahamas. The league has also established digital media partnerships with platforms like Triller and FITE TV to stream live game coverage and provide exclusive content.
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Teams and players
Ice Cube's Big3 basketball league features 12 teams, including The Trilogy, The Power, The Triplets, and The Enemies. The league consists of both former NBA players and international players. Notable players in the Big3 include Caitlin Clark, Jaylen Brown, Dwight Howard, and Kemba Walker.
In 2024, Ice Cube and his business partner, Jeff Kwatinetz, sold four of the 12 franchises for about $10 million each to ownership groups in Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, and Detroit. The Miami franchise is led by Heath Freeman, a sports and hospitality executive, and includes investment from former Detroit Lions lineman T.J. Lang and NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin. The Los Angeles franchise was purchased by a consortium of investors led by DCB Sports, which has also invested in other sports leagues. The Houston franchise has multiple owners, including Milton Carroll, who holds a minority stake in the Houston Astros, and Mullins, the chairman and CEO of Lime Rock Resources private equity firm. The Detroit franchise is owned by GameAbove Sports, a sports-focused business development entity backed by CapStone Holdings Inc.
The Big3 league has a unique format, with each game racing to 50 points and a rapid 14-second shot clock, creating fast-paced and intense gameplay. The league also has unique rules, such as the 4-point shot, and its own award categories, including Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, 4th Man, and Defensive Player of the Year.
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Awards and recognition
Ice Cube, the hip-hop musician and actor, co-founded the 3-on-3 basketball league Big3 (stylized BIG3) with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams, including former NBA players and international players, and games deviate from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball administered by FIBA.
Big3 has provided several notable players and coaches with awards and recognition since its founding in 2017. The league's inaugural championship trophy was awarded to The Trilogy in 2017, with the team taking home the championship again in 2021 and 2022. The Power were the champions in 2018, followed by The Triplets in 2019, The Enemies in 2023, and Bivouac in 2024.
The league's trophy was renamed in 2018 to honour Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Tri-state head coach Julius Erving. In 2023, George Gervin of the Detroit Amplifiers won Coach of the Year. Other annual award categories include Most Valuable Player, 4th Man, and Defensive Player of the Year.
Big3 has also attracted attention for its players, with Jaylen Brown becoming the first active NBA player to participate in a BIG3 game in 2023. In 2024, Ice Cube offered Caitlin Clark, a "generational athlete," a $5 million private contract to play in Big3. The league has also featured players like Jordan Crawford, who led the Enemies to the 2023 championship, and Joe Johnson, co-captain of the Detroit Amplifiers.
Big3 has expanded its reach through broadcast deals, including with CBS Sports and Triller, ensuring wider coverage of its games and increasing its visibility.
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Franchise ownership
Ice Cube, the hip-hop musician and actor, co-founded the 3-on-3 basketball league Big3 (stylized BIG3) in 2017 with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league is made up of 12 teams, including former NBA players and international players, and features a unique set of rules that deviate from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball.
In 2024, Ice Cube and Kwatinetz began selling ownership of four of the 12 franchises for about $10 million each. The new owners include groups with sports backgrounds from Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, and Detroit. Ice Cube stated that the new ownership model will help further engage local markets and add more people with sports expertise. He also expressed his desire to expand the league to 16 teams with local owners, stating that "having owners who can unlock the fanbase in their cities is just the next step in our history."
The Miami franchise is led by Heath Freeman, a media, sports, real estate, and hospitality executive. The Houston franchise includes Milton Carroll, who holds a minority stake in the Houston Astros, and the Detroit franchise is owned by GameAbove Sports, a sports-focused business development and strategic investment entity. The Los Angeles franchise was purchased by a consortium of investors led by DCB Sports, which has also invested in other sports leagues.
Ice Cube remains in charge of the league as a whole and continues to seek out club owners to expand the league and engage local fanbases.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ice Cube founded the BIG3, a 3-on-3 basketball league, in 2017.
BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league with a unique set of rules, including a 4-point shot and a rapid 14-second shot clock. The league consists of 12 teams with rosters that include former NBA players and international players. BIG3 takes place during the NBA offseason, offering retired NBA players a competitive arena and fans an alternative basketball experience.
BIG3 games are broadcast on TV channels such as CBS and CBS Sports Network. You can also stream the games online through various platforms, including the league's official website and YouTube channel.
Ice Cube co-founded BIG3 with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, and they initially owned the league together. However, in 2024, they sold four of the 12 franchises to ownership groups in Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, and Detroit for approximately $10 million each. Ice Cube and Kwatinetz remain in charge of the league as a whole, while the new owners bring sports expertise and help engage local markets.
Yes, in 2024, Ice Cube offered Caitlin Clark a groundbreaking $5 million contract to play in BIG3. He described Clark as a "generational athlete" who would find "tremendous success" in the league. This deal would have made Clark one of the richest female athletes in the country.
