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The BIG3 basketball atmosphere is one of a West Coast summer-style block party — quite literally — bursting with frenetic hip-hop energy brought straight to the hardwood. At the center is legendary rapper and Hollywood A-lister Ice Cube, who, between games, stands before a BIG3-branded backdrop in the bowels of the Intuit Dome, greeting families and flashing Westside hand signs as cameras click. “It takes a village; all these people have honed their skills to be the best,” Ice Cube, the league’s co-owner and founder, said of the atmosphere.
“It was a dream come true, not too far from where I grew up,” Ice Cube said. “So to have a league like this, right at the house, is just beautiful.” After seven years of unaffiliated teams, the BIG3 shifted to a city-based model to cultivate loyal fan bases and sell franchises to local owners. Using L.A. as the blueprint — with a $10-million price tag — the hope is to bring long-term stability to the league. “We’re going to these eight cities every year,” Ice Cube said. “We can plan long-term, hopefully grow the league to other cities, [who] want to get in on the act.”
Ice Cube’s Big3 three-on-three basketball league took over the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday. “It’s our first year, we’re just getting started,” Howard said. “We’re looking forward to keeping it going. Obviously, the first year is always a little difficult — trying to get to know each other — but we’re doing a great job.”
Ice Cube: The basketball world really does hold Charles Barkley career over Robert Horry. The way he's treated and the way what he means to basketball. At the end of the day, the fans get it right. The players who were star players that didn't get a championship are treated like superstars.
Big3 fires commentator Rachel DeMita for live-tweeting about Caitlin Clark during a league game
The Big3 has no use for Caitlin Clark mania. Ice Cube’s basketball league fired courtside commentator Rachel DeMita after roughly one year, according to Front Office Sports, with the “final straw” being when DeMita tweeted about Clark’s performance against the Liberty this past Saturday while she was working during a league game. DeMita, a popular basketball commentator with nearly 279,000 followers on X and at least 1 million on Instagram, posted eight times that day — which she indicated was her birthday — and all involved Clark.
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The Big3, according to a letter DeMita read in her video, was “dismayed and disappointed” by her posts about the competing league during the same time the 3-on-3 basketball league was broadcasting live on Saturday. DeMita added that she didn’t want to make excuses and she’ll “take [the firing] on the chin.”
The Caitlin Clark thing last year—I know it made big news that there was an offer out there for a couple years, 10 million bucks to play. Was that a real offer? And does it stand forever?” Ice Cube: “Yeah, it was a real offer. You know, we were prepared to fulfill the offer. We just wanted to have a conversation with her and her family about it. That didn’t happen. I think the agents kept us away. And, you know, we moved on. She's doing great in the WNBA. We wish her well. We're looking forward to June 14th—Game One, Chicago, Allstate Arena—it’s going down.”
Chris Haynes, the guy who’s broken more NBA news than most players can rack up double-doubles, is making the jump to the BIG3 as a sideline reporter. And no, this isn’t some random “who’s that?” hire. Haynes has been around the block—covering LeBron’s Cavs, KD’s Warriors, and dropping “Haynes Briefs” like they’re hot. But now? He’s bringing that insider edge to Ice Cube’s basketball playground. Starting June 14, Chris Haynes will join Rachel DeMita for live coverage across CBS and VICE Sports. And before you get all “who cares about sideline reporters,” let’s be real: having someone who gets it on the mic is crucial. Haynes isn’t just gonna be shouting out generic “great play” lines. Nah, he’s gonna drop the kind of takes that’ll make you second-guess your fantasy draft.
Starter, the retro athletic-wear label, is returning to the court by signing a deal with rapper Ice Cube’s Big3 basketball league. In an agreement set to be announced Thursday, Starter will produce on-court uniforms, sideline gear, warmups and fan apparel for the 3-on-3 league. Both sides describe the partnership as “substantial,” but financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Kemba Walker to play in BIG3 League
Chris Haynes: Four-time NBA All-Star point guard Kemba Walker has reached an agreement to play for @IceCube ’s @TheBig3 for the 2025 season, league sources tell me.
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Dwight Howard signs with Big3
Dwight Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11), has signed to play for the Los Angeles Riot of the Big3, the three-on-three basketball league co-founded by Ice Cube.
The ongoing debate surrounding Bronny James, his NBA potential, and the public discussion involving LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith caught Ice Cube’s attention. He weighed in on the situation, offering a balanced perspective on both sides. “Yeah! As a father it’s your job to protect your family. But it’s also Stephen A’s job to critique college and professional basketball players. Even high school [players]. So everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to do. You know sometimes you need to be heard, sometimes you need to listen and sometimes you need to answer back. And that’s fine, you know? Two people don’t have to agree all the time, you know? This come to blows thing? That wouldn’t have been cool in no way shape or form and nobody would’ve been in the right.”
Ryan Hollins: "One thing people don’t talk about enough is the mental health side of retiring from basketball. When you leave the NBA, you lose that structure, the competition, and the crowd. For me, I never drank or smoked—my high was the roar of the arena. But when you retire, that’s gone, and you can’t replace it. The Big 3 brought that back. It gave us a chance to feel that energy again, to compete in front of people who love the game. Beyond that, it’s a fraternity. Everybody’s in the same city each week, so you reconnect with guys you haven’t seen in years. We check on each other, talk about life after basketball, and support each other. A lot of players struggle after retirement—addiction, divorce, money problems. The Big 3 isn’t just a league; it’s a lifeline for us to find our balance again. Ice Cube did something special, and it’s changed lives."
Dave McMenamin: Sacramento Kings interim coach Doug Christie oversees his first shootaround on the job with Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” blasting in the background. The NBA is an unceasing wheel of change.
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