The NBA is being investigated by the United States Department of Justice over allegations the league attempted to sabotage Ice Cube’s Big3 league, according to TMZ Sports. The league has denied the allegations.
Ice Cube and Big3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz have met with Department of Justice lawyers regarding concerns the NBA may have engaged in anticompetitive behavior.
The allegations include the NBA interfering with sponsorship deals, discouraging television networks from broadcasting games, and making arbitrary rules to prevent players from joining the league, despite the NBA and Big3 seasons not overlapping.
The report also claims Big3 officials believe they have been “unfairly targeted by the NBA” and sources in the story say NBA owners have been discouraged from investing in Ice Cube’s league.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told TMZ the allegations were “not true”.
“We have been supportive of the Big3 since its inception, but we declined to invest.”
The NBA would face a substantial fine if found guilty.
It does seem weird the nba wouldn’t have any interest in the league considering it’s an Olympic sport now
It is also a good retirement home for NBA players that want to ball but cannot do it at a NBA level anymore. The NBA should be promoting/helping BIG3 get more recognizable players, rather then ignoring it. It isn’t even direct competition since BIG3 is on in the summer.
Feels like the basketball played in the Big3 barely resembles Olympic 3x3 ball.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Cube’s big 3 a totally different thing from the FIBA Big 3?
Bulut is probable FIBA 3v3 goat and he plays Big 3
The BIG3 is in direct competition with the WNBA season.
Ice Cube wanted to work with the NBA as a developmental league even though the NBA has the G-League and the BIG3 is a roadshow of retired NBA players.
Why would the NBA work with BIG3?
IMO the biggest issue is Ice Cube. Adam Silver doesnt want to have to answer questions about when Ice Cube goes on a podcast and says some goofy shit.
why does Silver need to answer for Cube? Silver doesn’t even say shit when NBA teams are supporting terrorism in Palestine
Cube isnt asking for NBA to work with him. he asking for the NBA to stop working against him
It’s not in direct competition
They are when it comes to TV broadcasts.
If the BIG3 comes to an WNBA city, they are competing for ticket sales and sponsorship dollars.
The people going to BIG3 games would not be going to WNBA games.
I could see families going to both.
That’s quite an ignorant comment to make.
The NBA doesn’t need to work with the BIG3, but barring players and referees from participating (when they already participate with other events/leagues) seems like a step too far.
You could also argue that it is beneficial for the NBA to work with the BIG3, either in helping to increase the popularity of basketball in general, as a development option, or as a semi-retirement option for guys who can still hoop but can’t handle the full grind.
I don’t think the NBA allows any of its players to take player contracts in any other leagues.
Usually when they play in other events, it’s representing their country, charity events, or for personal fun. It’s not for pay from a competing league.
I’d say that Ice Cube’s public persona since he first presented BIG3 has been enough for the NBA to stay way.
The NBA wants control and they can’t control BIG3. I don’t know if the BIG3 doesn’t much to expand basketball’s popularity in a way it helps the NBA. If anything, the BIG3’s who business model is to ride the NBA’s coattails and try to force the NBA to pretend as if the BIG3 is a sanctioned partner.
The BIG3 is trying to expand, using the NBA’s brand and prestige to their own benefit but it doesn’t help the NBA at all other than filling dates in NBA franchise controlled arenas in the summer.
This right here. The Big3 ain’t reaching any market whatsoever that the NBA doesn’t already have a grasp on. The only reason the Big3 draws any attention is that ex-NBAers show up.
And they have a celebrity CEO who can generate publicity.
They probably can’t make money directly
I think what’s more weird is Ice Cube going to the Feds to sic em on someone
Think about that, decades ago
Not even saying he’s wrong… But the man’s been on quite the journey
Lol, my first thought too. You either die a gangsta or live long enough to become the snitch.
There’s an alternative universe where Ice Cube died in a Vegas drive-by and Tupac is starring in buddy cop movies with Kevin Hart
And Tupac is married to… nevermind
We already had Gridlock’d which isn’t too far off lol
Internet nerds with this shit. Ice Cube was never a gangster, he was just a rapper from Jersey that moved to LA and met Dr. Dre. The gangster aspect for him and Dre in particular was played up for sales.
I never said he had actual gang affiliation, I was just making a throw away joke on reddit. You’re the only one that sounds like an internet nerd with that holier than thou attitude and your ‘ackchyually’ response.
Or make 10 figures on headphones
Gotta respect that
Everything changed for Ice Cube when he did Are we There Yet.
Infiltrate the dealers, find the supplier.
What happens when he became the 1%.
Same kinda evolution happened with Dave Chappelle. He stepped away from the comedy that made him great on his comedy network show and started going “HAHAHA DAE TRANS PEOPLE?!”, then complained he’s being cancelled even though all his standup specials are still on Netflix.
It’s not weird anymore… dude is a fed through and through
Ta-dow…Ta-dow…How ya like me now!!!
I avoid a lot of Olympics b/c the coverage (in the US) is so bad. But my god, 3v3 basketball was so much fun. Non stop movement where it all matters (no time wasted transitioning to other side of court), everyone involved on both sides of the ball at all times, and so much strategy wrt matchups (big vs speed, etc).
It would never replace 5v5 for me, but it absolutely should be it’s own thing.
It’s also during the offseason. They’re not really competitors
It has nothing to do with the product, the NBA has no interest being in business with Ice Cube.
It sounds like it goes beyond that, to threatening sponsors that if they also sponsor Big3 the NBA would revoke their contracts wit the NBA or something like that.
THAT is the very definition of anti-competitive behavior.
IF they’re actually doing it, which so far there is no public evidence to support.
3v3 is also the most popular version of street ball.
I wonder why the NBA doesn’t have mini-events during all-stars doing 1v1s and 3v3s, I am sure there are players who would LOVE to take part.
fuck it why not incorporate it competitively somehow? 3 v 3 overtime like in hockey? Or different tournaments/special events during the season that have different formats like 1v1 3v3 or 5v5 still and it all counts to standings/leaderboards competitively.
the league can do whatever it wants in theory but ultimately they will probably play it extremely safe and stick with tradition as long as the money flows in
Imagine if the league brought back the Legends game except 3 on 3 and half-court only so they don’t die.
Just thought of a new horrible idea: the midseason tournament should be 3v3
3 v 3 1 veteran 1 rising star 1 WNBA 1 legend
Make it happen!
the nba used to sponsor “Hoop it Up” back in the late 90s into the 00’s. It was HUGELY popular in some markets and in the beginning it was better run than Gus Macker.
But in later years we had waaaay more issues with Hoop it Up. One time they changed the location the NIGHT before the tourny was a huge pain in the ass. And One year they made us play a womens team because nobody signed up for the top gun league for women. We said we didn’t want to play them so they told us it’d be a loss in pool play so we said fuck it and played them and beat them 21-4 and I got yelled at by one of the players moms for “going to hard” I told her we were forced to play them so there you go.
all star game is 3v3 where retired Vets come back
They used to have that til people got injured
Nba should have a 3x3 league. They always have lots of veteran players struggling to land a contract because teams prioritize youth.
Teams could put those guys in their 3x3 teams.
They already have the G-League
That should be the purpose of the g-league but the nba can’t even fully commit to that.
No, the G league is like the minor leagues for the NBA and should stay as that. It’s to develop young players not allow old guys who can’t hack it in the NBA anymore to continue playing.
Minor leagues should have a combination of old timers and young players. Having exposure to veteran leadership while you are learning can help your development.
Didn’t the new CBA try to limit Big 3’s? Seems open and shut.
Yeah and Ice Cube could run it!
Same reason that the NFL stopped beach football. Injuries.
Not 1v1. The stake is too high and most players won’t try it.
I just don’t see every superstar willing to risk getting embarrassed on national TV.
They’ll barely admit to playing 1 on 1 with each other in private.
I loved 3v3 in my pick up days. It’s a much more efficient way of playing basketball, though I get when guys wanna do full. In my experience, for casual/amateur players, full court becomes more of a game of endurance than it is about basketball skill, hah.
3x3 is a much better format for practicing skills. You get quicker possessions and more space. And it’s usually lower stakes (no one waiting), so you can get away with trying new stuff. I’m a much more assertive player in 3x3 than 5x5.
Yeah but if you play halfcourt too much you end up in a fight, lol.
What do I mean more efficient? If you mean easier, no duh. 3v3 favors offense because there’s way better spacing. Tbh I think 3v3 is a bad idea if you are trying to get better.
The game is 5v5
This reminds me of NBA Street lol.
NBA Street V3 was the GOAT, the soundtrack to the game was off the charts as well.
Vol 2 >
V2 clears V3 by a mile
no they wouldn’t, for the same reason why the stars don’t do the dunk contest anymore and why they half ass the ASG. a lot of these dudes live through social media and they’re afraid to get embarrassed.
I think you’re right, MOST players would avoid a 1v1 or 3v3 contest during ASW. However, I do think you could find a few bench guys, or even GLeague guys who would take it seriously/competitive to try and make a name for themselves. Maybe casuals wouldn’t, but I would watch the shit out of that.
We did have a couple good ASG in the last 5. Last years was so horrendous people forgot the previous good ones.
Facts
They don’t do those things because we’ve spent the past 25 years beating into their heads the belief that only rings matter.
Bro huh?? Just making shit up 😭
This is bullshit as players played in pro ams recently. It’s injury concerns
I think that it’s more so an injury risk thing.
I think it has more to do with avoiding unnecessary injuries in games/events that ultimately don’t matter. Nothing to do with embarrassment. I think most players have been especially hesitant to participate in extracurricular activities ever since PG broke his leg in that Olympic practice game.
Embarassment is definitely part of it, just no player is going to say “yeah I’m afraid to get embarassed” but they will say “yeah I want to preserve my body”.
Has there ever been an injury in the dunk contest? LeBron wouldn’t do it his entire career which put a stop to superstars doing it basically singlehandedly. Is that to protect from injury?
Nobody had ever broken their leg in a Team USA showcase either and then it happened
It’s cost benefit analysis for both injury and reputation. Players receive little to no benefit for doing it at the risk of massive monetary and reputational injury.
T-Mac did.
In the end players can get injured at any time in their lives, avoiding doing stuff seems silly to me. Whats next, avoid practice and hitting the gym because they can get hurt as well?
Yep. But it would have been a nice collab with the Big 3 to feature them in the All Star weekend for like half a day.
This is the answer.
Oh hey Allen Iverson, how’s retirement going for you
I be crying