
Big3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams, including former NBA players and international players, and follows a set of rules that deviate from the official FIBA 3-on-3 basketball rules. Big3 has announced a unique opportunity for fans and investors to purchase team ownership stakes, offering two ownership options with different benefits and voting rights. This innovative approach to sports team ownership allows fans to have a more direct stake in their favourite teams and players. The league has also expanded its reach by selling the rights for a team to represent a home market in a $10 million deal, marking a transition from the previous model of centralised ownership and operations. With a focus on innovation and creating opportunities, Big3 is changing the game of basketball and providing new avenues for investment and fan engagement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Team ownership options | 2 |
| Number of editions per option | 1000 |
| Price per Fire edition | $25,000 |
| Price per Gold edition | $5,000 |
| First team sale price | $10 million |
| Number of franchises | 12 |
| Number of markets | 10 |
| Number of markets announced | 2 |
| Location of 2023 Championship and All-Star games | O2 Arena, London, UK |
| Number of trophies won by Trilogy | 3 |
| Number of trophies won by The Enemies | 1 |
| Number of trophies won by Bivouac | 1 |
| Number of investors | 2 |
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What You'll Learn

Fans can purchase team ownership stakes
BIG3 is a basketball league founded by producer, actor, and musician Ice Cube, and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league is known for its innovative approach to basketball, focusing on creating a dynamic and competitive environment for players and fans.
In April 2022, BIG3 announced a groundbreaking opportunity for fans and investors to purchase ownership stakes in the league's 12 teams. This move marked a significant shift towards decentralized team ownership, empowering fans to actively participate in their favourite teams' success.
Fans have two ownership options: 25 Fire stakes priced at $25,000 each and 975 Gold stakes priced at $5,000 each. Both options offer exclusive benefits, including voting rights, priceless gameday experiences, VIP tickets, and limited-edition merchandise. The Fire edition also grants intellectual property and licensing rights, enhancing the fan engagement experience.
This initiative, as described by Ice Cube, represents "team ownership in the 21st century." It strengthens the connection between the league and its fans, fostering a sense of investment and involvement that extends beyond traditional spectator experiences. BIG3's approach to fan ownership is a pioneering step in the industry, setting a precedent for the future of sports team ownership and fan engagement.
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The league will introduce decentralised team ownership
In April 2022, the BIG3 league announced a new approach to team ownership, introducing decentralised team ownership. This move provides fans with the opportunity to own a stake in the 12 teams that make up the league. Fans have two ownership options to choose from: 1000 editions, including 25 Fire editions priced at $25,000 each and 975 Gold editions at $5,000 per edition. Each edition comes with a range of benefits, such as voting rights, VIP tickets, and limited-edition merchandise. The Fire edition also grants exclusive intellectual property and licensing rights.
This innovative model of decentralised team ownership empowers fans to become actively involved in their favourite teams and players. It represents a shift from the traditional centralised structure, where major decisions are made solely by senior leaders, towards a more democratic and diversified decision-making process. By distributing decision-making power across lower-level managers and even team members, the league encourages creativity, agility, and faster implementation of ideas.
The benefits of decentralised ownership extend beyond increased fan engagement. It enables the league's upper management to focus on high-level goals and long-term strategies. With lower-level managers and teams handling crucial operational tasks, the league can streamline processes and adapt quickly to market trends and client requirements. Additionally, the decentralised structure fosters a culture of ownership and accountability, enhances employee engagement, and promotes leadership development at lower levels.
While the advantages of decentralisation are significant, it is important to recognise that fully centralised or decentralised management structures are rarely implemented in their purest form. Most organisations adopt a hybrid approach, tailoring the structure to their specific needs. In the context of BIG3, this could mean combining decentralised team ownership with centralised control over certain aspects, such as maintaining consistent messaging, standardising procedures, and ensuring alignment across teams.
As BIG3 pioneers this new ownership model, it will be fascinating to observe the impact on the league's operations, fan engagement, and overall success. The league's willingness to experiment with innovative structures demonstrates its commitment to creating opportunities for both players and fans, shaping a new era of basketball.
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Fans have two ownership options: Fire or Gold
Fans of the 3-on-3 basketball league BIG3 have been given a unique opportunity to purchase team ownership stakes. BIG3 has 12 teams, and fans can now own a stake in any of them. Fans have two ownership options: Fire and Gold.
The Fire option is priced at $25,000 per edition, with 25 editions available. On the other hand, the Gold option is priced at $5,000 per edition, with 975 editions available. The Fire option includes exclusive intellectual property and licensing rights to team names, logos, and merchandise, as well as additional gameday activations.
Both the Fire and Gold options come with voting rights towards team actions, priceless gameday experiences, and VIP tickets to all games. Owners will also receive limited-edition team, league, and championship merchandise and memorabilia. Furthermore, owners of participating teams will receive championship rings at the presentation ceremony.
BIG3 was founded in 2017 by hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams, including former NBA players and international players. BIG3 games feature deviations from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball, and the league has introduced a new basketball variant called "Fireball3."
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The BIG3's first team sold for $10 million
In May 2024, BIG3, the 3-on-3 professional basketball league founded by Ice Cube, sold the rights to its first team for $10 million. This marked the first time a BIG3 team would represent a home market, with Los Angeles, CA, serving as its base. The purchase was made by a consortium of investors led by DCB Sports, which includes professional athletes and celebrities.
Since its formation in 2017, BIG3 teams have been centrally owned and operated at the league level, travelling to different cities each week without being associated with specific markets. However, the league announced that the 2024 season would be the final one operating under this model, and all teams would transition to representing home markets. This shift aims to allow teams to cultivate their local fan bases and establish roots in cities, fostering the growth of the sport and the league.
The sale of the first team rights is a significant step in BIG3's evolution, reflecting its commitment to innovation and creating opportunities for players, fans, and investors. BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube expressed his enthusiasm for the deal, stating that the league could shape the future of basketball with its dynamic gameplay and global appeal.
The league has also announced plans to introduce decentralised team ownership, providing fans with the opportunity to own stakes in the 12 BIG3 teams. This groundbreaking approach to ownership in professional sports offers fans two options: 25 'Fire' stakes priced at $25,000 each and 975 'Gold' stakes at $5,000 each. Both options include voting rights, exclusive experiences, VIP tickets, and limited-edition merchandise.
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The BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league
In 2022, BIG3 announced a groundbreaking opportunity for fans and investors to purchase team ownership stakes. This move towards decentralised team ownership allows fans to own a stake in the 12 teams. Fans have two ownership options: 25 'Fire' stakes priced at $25,000 each and 975 'Gold' stakes at $5,000 each. All editions include voting rights, VIP tickets to all games, and limited-edition merchandise. 'Fire' stakes also include exclusive intellectual property rights and additional gameday activations.
BIG3 has expressed its mission to build an innovative league that creates opportunities for players and fans that other leagues lack. This approach to team ownership in professional sports is a significant step for the league and the sport, allowing fans to feel more invested in their favourite teams and players.
In 2024, BIG3 sold the rights to its first team in a $10 million deal, marking the first time a team would represent a home market. The Los Angeles-based team, debuting in 2025, was purchased by a consortium of investors led by DCB Sports, including professional athletes and celebrities. This marked a transition from the previous model of central league-level ownership. BIG3 has since sold the rights to three additional location-based franchises, with teams based in Miami, Houston, and Detroit, also debuting in 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams whose rosters include former NBA players and international players.
BIG3 has provided fans and investors with the opportunity to purchase team ownership stakes. Fans have two ownership options: 25 Fire editions priced at $25,000 each and 975 Gold editions priced at $5,000 each.
All editions include voting rights, VIP tickets to all games, limited-edition merchandise and memorabilia, and priceless gameday experiences. Fire editions also include exclusive intellectual property and licensing rights to team names, logos, and merchandise, as well as additional gameday activations.
To learn more about investing in BIG3, visit BIG3.com and follow @thebig3 on Twitter and Instagram.











































