Amanda Knapp
The 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 and international players, and follows a modified set of rules compared to the official FIBA regulations for 3-on-3 basketball. BIG3 debuted in 2017 and takes place during the NBA offseason, providing an exciting alternative for basketball fans and players alike. The league has gained popularity, with various partners and investors, and has expanded to include location-based franchises, showcasing its growing impact on the basketball world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2017 |
| Founders | Hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz |
| Format | 3-on-3 basketball |
| Teams | 12 |
| Players | Former NBA players and international players |
| Rules | Deviations from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball as administered by FIBA |
| Season | During the NBA offseason |
| Variants | Fireball3 |
| Partners | CBS, DAZN, Vyre Network, Adidas, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Kick streamer LosPollosTV |
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What You'll Learn
- Big3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop musician Ice Cube
- The league consists of 12 teams, including former NBA and international players
- Big3 games deviate from the official FIBA rules of 3-on-3 basketball
- The league has had partnerships with Adidas, CBS, and DAZN
- The inaugural season in 2017 saw the Power crowned as champions
Big3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop musician Ice Cube
Big3 (stylized as 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 with rosters that include former NBA players and international players. The Big3 league features rules that deviate from the official FIBA-sanctioned 3-on-3 basketball rules, and it debuted in 2017 during the NBA offseason.
The first Big3 draft was held on April 30, 2017, and the inaugural week of games took place on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The league has since expanded, with the announcement of location-based franchises in Miami, Houston, and Detroit, set to debut in 2025. The rules of Fireball3, the basketball variant played in the Big3, differ from the traditional 3-on-3 FIBA-sanctioned rules.
In terms of broadcasting, the Big3 league has had partnerships with CBS, DAZN, Vyre Network, and its own Big 3 YouTube channel. In 2023, Big3 launched Big3tv to stream all its games on its website internationally and on non-televised US games. The league has also partnered with various companies, including Adidas, with whom they launched the Young3 initiative for underprivileged youth.
The Big3 has had notable figures in leadership roles, with Clyde Drexler serving as the second Commissioner, replacing Roger Mason Jr., who was the first President and Commissioner. The league has also attracted investors such as Heath Freeman, Eric Mullins, Milton Carroll, and GameAbove Sports, who have purchased rights to location-based franchises.
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The league consists of 12 teams, including former NBA and international players
The 3-on-3 basketball league, Big3, consists of 12 teams with rosters that include former NBA and international players. The league was founded by hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. It debuted in 2017 and takes place during the NBA offseason. The rules of Big3 games deviate from the official FIBA rules of 3-on-3 basketball. For example, in 2020, Big3 announced that their rule set would be the foundation of a new basketball variant called "Fireball3".
The league has had several notable players and figures involved. Roger Mason Jr. was the first President and Commissioner, before being replaced by Clyde Drexler in 2018. In 2018, Corey Maggette of the Power was awarded MVP and Captain of the Year, while his coach, Nancy Lieberman, was awarded Coach of the Year. In the same year, Adidas and Big3 agreed on a three-year partnership, which included the launch of the youth initiative Young3.
Big3 has also had several location-based franchise teams, with groups of investors purchasing the rights to base teams in cities such as Miami, Houston, and Detroit, debuting in 2025. The league has had various broadcast partners over the years, including CBS, DAZN, Vyre Network, and its own Big 3 YouTube channel. In 2024, Big3 partnered with Kick streamer LosPollosTV, becoming the first streamer to have exclusive rights to livestream BIG3 basketball games.
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Big3 games deviate from the official FIBA rules of 3-on-3 basketball
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 and international players. While Big3 is a form of 3-on-3 basketball, it does deviate from the official FIBA rules in several ways.
In FIBA 3x3, each team must have three players on the court when the game begins, with one substitute. Substitutions occur during dead-ball situations and players can only enter the game from behind the endline opposite the basket. In contrast, Big3 games allow for larger rosters, with teams having access to a wider pool of players to substitute during games.
The scoring system in FIBA 3x3 is straightforward. Each successful shot inside the arc, including free throws, is worth one point, while shots made outside the arc are worth two points. Games are played for 10 minutes, and the winner is the first team to reach 21 points or the team with the higher score at the end of the period. If the game is tied after 10 minutes, an untimed overtime period is played until a winner emerges. Big3, on the other hand, employs a unique scoring system called "Fireball." The details of this scoring system and how it differs from the FIBA rules are not publicly available.
Another difference between Big3 and FIBA 3x3 is the ball size. FIBA 3x3 uses a size 6 basketball, while it is unclear if Big3 uses the same ball size. Additionally, the playing area for FIBA 3x3 can be indoors or outdoors, as long as there is a hoop, a half-court, and six players. The playing area requirements for Big3 may differ, as the league has specific venues for its games.
The rules of Big3 games were announced in 2017, and the league debuted that year during the NBA offseason. While the specific dates are unclear, the inaugural week of games took place in June 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The league has since gained popularity and expanded, with the introduction of location-based franchises in Miami, Houston, and Detroit, set to debut in 2025.
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The league has had partnerships with Adidas, CBS, and DAZN
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 rules of 3-on-3 basketball. The league debuted in 2017 and takes place during the NBA offseason.
BIG3 has had several partnerships since its inception, including notable collaborations with Adidas, CBS, and DAZN. In 2018, BIG3 and Adidas announced a three-year partnership, which included Adidas launching a full retail line of sneakers, clothing, and equipment. This partnership also gave rise to Young3, a youth initiative aimed at engaging underprivileged children in each city where BIG3 games were held, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Young3 hosted 3-on-3 tournaments and skills clinics for children aged 7 to 14, with a focus on community engagement and player development. Adidas, with its history of innovation in sports, was a fitting partner for BIG3's commitment to bringing excitement and innovation to 3-on-3 basketball.
BIG3 has also maintained a partnership with CBS, the broadcast partner for the league. In 2022, CBS aired 28 hours of coverage in the US, with additional coverage provided by DAZN, Vyre Network, and the Big 3 YouTube channel internationally. The league's partnership with CBS has spanned multiple seasons, with CBS Sports returning for a fifth season in 2018. In 2023, BIG3 launched Big3tv to stream all its games on its website internationally and on non-CBS games in the United States.
DAZN is another key partner of BIG3, providing broadcast coverage of the league's games. In 2022, DAZN, along with Vyre Network and the Big 3 YouTube channel, broadcast 29 hours of coverage in the US and all coverage internationally. This partnership contributed to the global reach and accessibility of BIG3 basketball games. These partnerships with CBS, DAZN, and other broadcasters have been instrumental in bringing the excitement of BIG3 basketball to fans around the world.
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The inaugural season in 2017 saw the Power crowned as champions
The 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. The BIG3 debuted in 2017 during the NBA offseason.
The inaugural BIG3 season in 2017 began on June 25 and ended on August 13. The first week of games took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and featured four 3x3 basketball games. The winner of each game was determined by the first team to reach 60 points, leading by 2 points or more. Half-time occurred when one team reached 30 or more points.
The second week of games took place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The rules were slightly different, with the winner being the first team to reach 50 points, leading by 2 points. Half-time was called when one team reached 25 or more points.
The BIG3 Championship game was held on August 26, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Trilogy defeated the 3 Headed Monsters 51-46, completing a perfect 10-0 season. Rashard Lewis of the 3 Headed Monsters was voted the league's Most Valuable Player.
While Trilogy won the 2017 BIG3 Championship, the Power did not go home empty-handed that season. On August 20, the Power faced off against the Killer 3s in the playoffs at the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The Power emerged victorious, advancing to the championship game. Although they did not become the inaugural champions, the Power's strong performance in the 2017 season set the stage for their championship victory the following year.
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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 Big3 debuted in 2017 and takes place during the NBA offseason.
The rules of the Big3 games deviate from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball as administered by FIBA. The league announced in 2020 that its rule set would be the core of a new basketball variant called "Fireball3".
The Big3 league consists of 12 teams whose rosters include former NBA players and international players.
