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.
I’m guessing it’s a stretch and they’re hoping the NBA will just pay them or join forces with them. All of the allegations could be exaggerated. Company X was about to sponsor a Big 3 player and suddenly they go with Dame Lillard instead. Interference. Network was going to broadcast a Big 3 game but suddenly get offered a Spurs game instead. Interference. It’s just business and lawyers trying to lawyer. DOJ being involved is weird though.