10 Interesting Players from Ice Cube’s BIG3 League
Back in December, rapper/businessman Ice Cube announced exciting plans to start a 3-on-3 basketball league starring ex-NBA greats.
Dubbed BIG3, Cube founded this league because he wasn’t ready to see future hall-of-famer Kobe Bryant stop playing.
“I had been thinking about this for a minute,” said Cube, “but seeing Kobe retire just made me want to kick it into high gear, because I think he’s still got game. I started writing notes down, putting concepts and thoughts down.”
No, Bryant unfortunately won’t participate in BIG3. But we will get to see some other notable players take part. That said, let’s look at 10 of the most-interesting names on BIG3’s roster.
*Side Note* Only some of the players have been announced. HotNewHipHop reports that a combine will be held on April 17 – ahead of the summer season schedule – with coaches and captains then filling out their 5-player rosters.
1. Charles Oakley, Power Forward, Age 53
Not long after Charles Oakley was forcibly ejected from a New York Knicks game, Ice Cube extended an olive branch by signing Oak to be a player/coach.
The former Knicks enforcer graciously accepted and will be the most-intriguing participant because 1) of the recent events at Madison Square Garden, and 2) everybody wants to see what the 53 year old has left.
He last played in the 2003-04 season for the Houston Rockets, averaging 1.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in seven games. For his career, Oakley averaged 9.7 points and 9.5 boards over 19 seasons.
2. Allen Iverson, Point Guard, Age 41
No BIG3 player has been marketed more than Iverson, and rightfully so. One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Iverson averaged 26.4 points per game over his 17-year career.
AI proved that he still had plenty left in the tank during his last NBA season (2009-10) in Philadelphia, averaging 13.9 points in 25 games. Iverson had to quit the Sixers, citing the need to take care of his daughter’s health issues.
He briefly played for Turkey’s Beşiktaş in 2011, received a D-League offer in 2013, and retired the same year after saying he lost passion for the NBA. Given that Iverson has had 5 years off basketball, we imagine that he’ll come out with a full head of steam this summer.
3. Jason Williams, Point Guard, Age 41
I for one have been dying to see Williams play again ever since highlights of him dominating the Orlando rec league with his patented streetball moves surfaced.
Williams last played a combined 27 games during the 2010-11 season for Orlando and Memphis. White Chocolate never put up big numbers in his career – 10.5 points and 5.9 assists – but he’s one of the most-entertaining players of all time.
4. Kenyon Martin, Power Forward, Age 39
Like Iverson, Kenyon Martin is one of the players being used to market BIG3. After being drafted No. 1 overall in 2000, Martin never lived up to lofty expectations, averaging 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks for his career.
But he was part of two New Jersey (Brooklyn) Nets teams that went to the NBA Finals. And what makes Martin really interesting is his reputation as an enforcer, dating all the ways back to his college days with the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Still in his late 30s and having last played for Milwaukee in the 2014-15 season, Martin will be one of BIG3’s best-prepared players.
5. J.R. Rider, Shooting Guard, Age 45
Drafted fifth overall in 1993, J.R. Smith had a 9-year career that saw him win the 1994 Slam Dunk contest, and average over 19 points in four different seasons.
Sadly, his career was derailed by accusations of cocaine use and assault. In 2007, long after his playing days were over, Smith was arrested for evading police and cocaine possession, a time he called “the lowest point in my life.”
That said, it’ll be nice to see the former Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers guard get one more chance at basketball.
6. Latrell Sprewell, Shooting Guard, Age 46
A late first-round pick of the Golden State Warriors, Latrell Sprewell carved out a successful 13-year career, where he averaged 18.3 points and 1.4 steals.
Sprewell’s career was marred by a 1997 incident, where he choked Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo and served a 68-game suspension. Sprewell would later star for the New York Knicks and lead them to a 1999 NBA Finals appearance in 1999, and an Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2000.
He last played for Minnesota in the 2003-04 season, averaging 12.8 points in 80 games.
7. Rashard Lewis, Small/Power Forward, Age 37
Jumping straight from high school to the NBA, Lewis was an early second-round pick who vastly exceeded his draft mark. The combo forward had a 17-year NBA career, averaging 14.9 points and shooting 38.6% from three-point range.
Lewis also won a championship in 2013 with the Miami Heat, and played his last-ever season with the team the following year. At 37, Lewis will be one of the young guns in the BIG3.
8. Kenny Anderson, Point Guard, Age 46
A New York City playground legend, Kenny Anderson played 16 season in the NBA, averaging 12.6 points and 6.1 assists during his career. He last played 43 total games in the 2004-05 season for the LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors.
Since his retirement, Anderson has stayed busy with TV appearances and a Basketball Diplomacy mission with Dennis Rodman to North Korea.
But now, he’s got something bigger to look forward to in the BIG3 league.
9. Chauncey Billups, Point Guard, Age 40
An NBA champion and Finals MVP in 2004, as well as a 5-time All-Star, Chauncey Billups is one of the most-decorated players in BIG3.
Playing 17 seasons, Billups averaged 15.2 points and 5.4 assists while shooting 38.7% from the three-point line.
10. Stephen Jackson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Age 38
A late second-round pick in 1997 who played overseas and in the CBA, Stephen Jackson never gave up on his career. The result was 14 years in the NBA, including a 2007-10 span where he averaged over 20 points each season.
The ultimate gunner, Jackson averaged 15.1 points over his career and won a championship in 2004 with San Antonio. It’ll be fun to see him jacking up shots again in the BIG3.