Ice Cube is a Los Angeles homegrown icon. He is the BIG3 CEO and co-founder who is trailblazing entertainment and sports. The rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur of the BIG3 is taking the industry and game to another level. A lifelong Lakers fan, Ice Cube grew up playing basketball. BIG3 is a 3-on-3 half-court basketball league that is changing the trajectory of sports globally.
Founders Ice Cube and Jeffrey Kwatinetz traveled to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California where the BIG3 Basketball League was in town for week five. This is the halfway point of the Season. The BIG3 teams have hall of famer coaches, All Stars, NBA Champions and some of the best 3-on-3 players in the world. These are mostly retired players from the NBA, the G-League, and worldwide.
The BIG3 is reigning with hall of famers! Just to name a few; they are either coaching for the BIG3 or a part of the League: Julius “Dr. J” Irving, Clyde Drexler, George “the Iceman” Gervin, Charles Oakley, Rick Barry, Gary Payton “The Glove”, Lisa Leslie, Nancy Lieberman and Michael Cooper.
The BIG3 is a family affair on and off the court with player TJ Cline 6’9”, the co-captain of the team POWER who plays for his mother, hall of fame coach Nancy Lieberman. The team Bivouac, coached by Payton, has two brothers playing on his team: co-captains Gerald Green 6’6” and Garlon Green 6’7”. Ice Cube is creating so many opportunities. He is helping people and communities thrive.
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The 2023 BIG3 Championship game was broadcast live on CBS from the O2 Arena in London, England where Ice Cube was quoted saying he is a chef. He cooked up the BIG3. Every team name and the details are from Ice Cube. On January 11, 2017 the BIG3 was born. Ice Cube has been cooking up legendary accomplishments ever since!
On January 2024, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the Inaugural Ice Cube Impact Award.
The halftime shows had the fans on their feet including Ice Cube himself. The League gave Anaheim a show with Rappers DJ Quik and WC (William LaShawn Calhoun Jr.) performing at halftime.
BIG3 fan Bryon Marks said, “I just like the excitement and competition.” Marks attended BIG3 basketball games for years.
BIG3 Enemies head coach Nick Young “Swaggy P” explained how he was doing after his team won. “I’m good you know, feeling good, undefeated, BIG3, Enemies,” he said.
Young is an L.A. native. He went to USC and Cleveland High School in Los Angeles, California. He also played for the L.A. Lakers.
The BIG3 has 12 teams. They started with eight teams. The BIG3 key rules are teams must win by 2 points, the first team to score 50 points wins, there is no game clock but there is a 14-second shot clock, there is a four-point shot, the player must be touching any part of the four-point circle, free throws are one shot worth two points, coaches can challenge on foul – players can go 1-on-1 which is called “Bring the Fire!”
This unique way of playing 3-on-3 basketball encourages physical play, defense at its finest and competitive skills.
The League is also expanding. BIG3 sold its first team in a $10 million deal. DCB Sports is the first to purchase a BIG3 team. There have been two more purchases since May 2024. Now three Teams are purchased, first in Los Angeles and now in Houston and Miami.
With his community contributions and creative genius, Ice Cube will help bring life into generations now and beyond.
