Ayrton Oneill
Big3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league, which debuted in 2017, consists of 12 teams with rosters including former NBA players and international players. The Big3 season takes place during the NBA offseason, usually in the summer, and lasts about 10 weeks. The 2023 season, for example, kicked off on June 25 and ended on August 26. The 2024 season is scheduled to start on June 15 and end on August 18.
| 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 |
| Fireball3 | A new basketball variant announced in 2020 with rules based on Big3 |
| Seasons | Annual, with the latest being in 2024 |
| Streaming | Kick streamer LosPollosTV, CBS, Fubo, Paramount+, Twitter (X), DAZN, Vyre Network, Big 3 YouTube channel |
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What You'll Learn
The 2023 BIG3 schedule
Week 1: Chicago, IL
The season will tip off at the United Center Arena in Chicago, Illinois, on June 25, marking the start of the sixth season of the BIG3 league.
Week 2: Dallas, TX
The action continues in Dallas, Texas, at the American Airlines Center on July 1, for the second week of the season.
Week 3: New York, NY
On Sunday, July 9, the BIG3 will host a festival at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, New York. This will be an outdoor festival with a capacity of over 23,000 fans and will be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Week 4: Memphis, TN
The league moves to Memphis, Tennessee for Week 4, with games taking place at the FedEx Forum on Saturday, July 15.
Week 5: Miami, FL
Miami, Florida will host Week 5 of the BIG3 season at the Miami Dade Arena on Sunday, July 23.
Week 6
Details for Week 6 are not readily available, but it is likely held in one of the announced cities.
Week 7: Charlotte, NC
The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina will be the venue for Week 7 on Saturday, August 5.
Week 8: Detroit, MI
The final week of the regular season will be held in Detroit, Michigan at the Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, August 13.
Championship Game
The playoffs and championship game will take place in the two weeks following the regular season. The championship game will be held on August 26, 2023, concluding the 2023 BIG3 season.
The 2023 BIG3 season promises to be exciting, with a mix of former NBA and WNBA players, international players, and all-star recruits. All games will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, with more than 23 hours of live coverage. Additionally, BIG3 launched Big3tv for international viewers to stream all games on their website.
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The 2024 BIG3 season
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, which debuted in 2017, consists of 12 teams whose rosters include former NBA players and international players. The BIG3 takes place during the NBA offseason.
The BIG3 rules contain deviations from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball as administered by FIBA. The BIG3 game is called Fireball3, and it differs from FIBA-sanctioned 3-on-3 games in several ways. For example, Fireball3 has three "four-point zones" on a circle 30 feet away from the basket, and neither game uses a jump ball to start.
In 2024, BIG3 partnered with Kick streamer LosPollosTV, which became the first streamer to have exclusive rights to livestream BIG3 basketball games.
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Fireball3 rules
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 whose rosters include former NBA players and international players. The rules of BIG3 games contain deviations from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball as administered by FIBA. It debuted in 2017 and takes place during the NBA offseason.
In January 2020, BIG3 announced a new basketball variant called "Fireball3" (stylized as FIREBALL3). The rules of Fireball3 differ from FIBA-sanctioned 3-on-3 games (branded as 3x3). Here are the rules of Fireball3:
Four-Point Zones
Fireball3 introduces three "four-point zones" on a circle 30 feet (9.1 m; 910 cm) away from the basket. One is on the midline of the court, and the other two are 40 degrees away from the midline. To score four points, a player's foot must be touching any part of a circle. This is a unique feature of Fireball3 compared to 3x3, which only has a standard two- and three-point system.
Start Procedures
Neither Fireball3 nor 3x3 use a jump ball to start the game, but they differ in their start procedures. In Fireball3, the two teams participate in a pre-game do-or-die four-point shootout. The winner of this shootout becomes the designated "home" team and will inbound first. In contrast, 3x3 uses a pre-game coin toss to determine the first possession, with the winner choosing when to take possession.
Foul Shots
All shooting fouls in BIG3 result in a single free-throw worth the number of points for the attempted field goal. After the fifth team foul in each half, the opponents are guaranteed two one-point free throws and possession of the ball. This differs from 3x3, where a shooting foul awards one free throw worth the same number of points as the fouled shot, and bonus situations may result in additional free throws.
Ball and Equipment
Fireball3 uses a new all-red ball, aptly named the "Fireball". This ball is different from the traditional orange basketball used in most basketball leagues, including 3x3.
Player Eligibility
BIG3 has lowered its age limit to 22, allowing younger players to enter the league. Additionally, BIG3 offers open tryouts for any athlete to qualify for the combine, without requiring professional basketball experience. This opens up opportunities for athletes from other sports backgrounds, such as NFL tight ends, to consider playing Fireball3.
These rule sets and innovations differentiate Fireball3 from traditional 3-on-3 basketball, creating a unique and exciting sport that has attracted fans and sponsors worldwide.
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Trilogy's three-peat attempt in 2023
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. BIG3 games deviate from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball administered by FIBA, and the league takes place during the NBA offseason.
Trilogy is a BIG3 team that has experienced significant success in recent years. After winning their second championship in 2021, they successfully defended their title in 2022, claiming their third BIG3 Championship overall. This consecutive two-year win puts Trilogy in a prime position to attempt a three-peat in 2023. In sports, particularly in North America, a three-peat refers to winning three consecutive championships or tournaments.
Trilogy's attempt at a three-peat in 2023 will be a challenging feat. They will be relying on key players like Isaiah Briscoe, who had a breakout season in 2022 and is known for his dribbling skills and strength around the rim. David Hawkins, an ultra-reliable swingman, will also be a crucial part of their roster. Stephen Jackson, the Head Coach of Trilogy, has a remarkable record, having won the BIG3 Championship in each of his two years as a coach. With his leadership and the team's strong lineup, Trilogy has a good chance of achieving the three-peat.
To enhance the fan experience, BIG3 launched Big3tv in 2023 to stream all its games on its website internationally and all games not televised on CBS in the United States. This initiative ensured that fans worldwide could easily follow Trilogy's journey toward their potential three-peat. The league also continued its partnership with CBS, providing extensive coverage of the games in the US. With increased accessibility, basketball enthusiasts around the globe could witness the potential historical moment of Trilogy securing their third consecutive championship.
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BIG3's awards
BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by the hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league, which debuted in 2017, consists of 12 teams whose rosters include former NBA players and international players. The BIG3 takes place during the NBA offseason.
Annually, players in the BIG3 are given the opportunity to nominate and vote for fellow players and coaches in several award categories. The results of the BIG3's awards are announced shortly before the championship game. Award categories include Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, 4th Man, and Defensive Player of the Year, among others.
In 2017, the BIG3's inaugural championship game was won by Trilogy, who defeated the 3 Headed Monsters 51-46. The league's Most Valuable Player award was won by 3 Headed Monsters forward Rashard Lewis, while Trilogy's undefeated season led to several awards for members of the team, including Defensive Player of the Year (James White) and Coach of the Year (Rick Mahorn).
In 2018, the Power defeated 3's Company 51-43 to become the league's second champions. Power's Corey Maggette was awarded MVP and Captain of the Year, while Power's Nancy Lieberman was awarded Coach of the Year.
In 2019, the Triplets were awarded the BIG3 championship trophy. The Trilogy were awarded their second and third trophies in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Enemies were awarded the trophy in 2023.
In 2022, Gerald Green was leading the BIG3 with 14 made threes, averaging 23.3 points per game (3rd in the league) and 7.5 rebounds per game (8th in the league). That same year, Tri-State captain Richardson's leadership was on full display as the team lost the game he missed by 15 points but won the three games he played by a total of 34 points.
In 2023, Michael Beasley was voted by BIG3 coaches and players as the winner of the Too Hard to Guard Award. Beasley, who scored 21.6 points per game that year, had the size to bang inside and balletic footwork around the basket.
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Frequently asked questions
Big3 basketball was founded in 2017 by hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz.
The Big3 basketball season usually starts in June and lasts for 10 weeks.
The championship game is usually held in August.
The Big3 basketball league plays in multiple cities across the US. In 2023, the league played in eight cities, including Chicago, Dallas, and New York.
Big3 basketball games are broadcast on television and streamed online. In 2024, games were streamed on the league's official X account in the US and on its website internationally.
