Big3
Current season, competition or edition: 2018 BIG3 season | |
.png) BIG3 official logo | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 11, 2017 |
| Founder | |
| First season | 2017 |
| Commissioner | Clyde Drexler |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country |  United States |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Venue(s) | 10 |
| Continent | FIBA Americas (Americas) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Trilogy (1st title) |
| Most titles | Trilogy (1 title) |
| TV partner(s) | FS1, Fox |
| Official website | Big3.com |
BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league, featuring mostly retired National Basketball Association (NBA) players. The league was created by rapper/actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz.
History
On January 11, 2017, Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz announced their new 3-on-3 basketball league at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel, in New York City.[1]
After the conclusion of the inaugural season, awards were voted on by the players. The MVP was won by 3 Headed Monsters forward Rashard Lewis after he averaged 21.3 points per game. Trilogy's undefeated season led to several awards for members of the team including DPOY won by James White and Coach of the Year awarded to Rick Mahorn.
Adidas and the BIG3 league announced on April 3, 2018 that they’ve agreed upon a three-year deal for Adidas to provide uniforms, apparel, and fan merchandise like tees, hoodies, and hats for The BIG3 League.
Rules
The rules of the BIG3 differ considerably from FIBA-sanctioned 3-on-3 games. They are as follows:
- Like FIBA-sanctioned 3-on-3, games are played on a half-court.
- Standard two- and three-point shots apply; the three-point line is the same distance as in the NBA.
- There are also three "four-point zones" on a circle 30 feet away from the basket. One is on the midline of the court; the other two are 40 degrees away from the midline. To score four points, a player's foot must be touching any part of a circle.
- Instead of a jump ball to start the game, the "home" team inbounds first. The home team is determined by a do-or-die 4-point shootout.
- The shot clock runs 14 seconds.
- Additional free throw is taken if a player is fouled while making a shot.
- A shooting foul awards one free throw, worth the same number of points as the fouled shot. Two-point shots are taken from the free throw line, three-point shots from the three-point line, four-point shots from the midline four-point circle. The free throw is awarded whether or not the fouled shot hits the basket.
- All fouls are ascribed to the team; players cannot foul out. After the fifth team foul in each half, opponents are guaranteed two one-point free throws and possession of the ball.
- A team's first technical foul results in one two-point free throw and possession. Additional technical fouls, as well as all flagrant fouls, result in two two-point free throws and possession.
- To win, a team must score 50 or more points and lead by at least two points.
- Halftime happens after one team reaches 25 points.
- Each team receives two timeouts—a 60-second and a 30-second—per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over.
- Substitutions can be made on a dead ball or by calling a timeout.
- After a score, a referee must touch the ball. After giving the defense 3 seconds to set, the opposing team must take the ball beyond the top out of bounds line. Player has 5 seconds to return ball inbounds.
- Defensive rebounds must be cleared if the ball touched the rim. If the ball did not touch the rim, defensive rebounds do not need to be cleared.
- Steals do not have to be cleared.
- The ball is cleared when the player with the ball establishes both feet behind the 3-point line. The ball can be cleared by dribbling or passing
- The defensive rebounder that makes a direct pass that clears the ball, must clear the lane and re-establish himself before his team's shot or pass hits the rim.
- If a shot or pass hits the rim without being cleared it will result in a turnover.
- Once a team has cleared the ball and establishes itself on offense, the normal "3 seconds in the key" rule applies.
- There is no defensive "3-second" rule.
- Instant replay applies and can be used to determine 3 and 4-point shots, out-of-bounds, flagrant fouls, goaltending, basket interference and clearance.
- All defensive strategies are allowed, including hand-checking, which is banned in NBA.[2]
Current teams
Draft
Draft selections 2017
The draft lottery was held on April 28, 2017 with Trilogy having the first pick followed by a player combine the next day. The actual draft took place on April 30, 2017 with 24 draft selections out of 70 draft entrants.[11][12]
- Source[13]
Draft selections 2018
The draft lottery was held on April 03, 2018 when BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube and commissioner Clyde Drexler joined Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe and Joy Taylor on Fox Sports 1’s “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” to make the announcement. The Ball Hogs came up with the winning ping pong ball and landed the first overall pick. The 2018 BIG3 Draft was held on Thursday, April 12.
Season recaps
2017 BIG3 season
The 2017 BIG3 season kicked off on June 25, 2017, with 4 games at the Barclays Center.
Allen Iverson controversy
When the BIG3 came to Philadelphia, they highly publicized the return of Philadelphia 76ers great Allen Iverson. Before the game, Iverson said "I’m not going to go out there and be the 25-year-old Allen Iverson—you’re going to see a 42-year-old man out there, but to be able to do that, for my fans, I thought that would be cool, just to get back out there again…for my fans to get that flashback." However, hours before the game, it was announced Iverson would not be playing. Iverson claimed that he did not play due to "advice from my doctor." Iverson's decision was frowned upon by many in the Philadelphia community.[15]
On Sunday, July 30, the BIG3 was scheduled to have games being played in Dallas, Texas. Iverson was slated to appear for his team, 3's Company, but failed to show up to the event or notify league officials about his decision. The next day, TMZ Sports posted pictures showing Iverson at a Chicago Area casino, the morning of the scheduled game.[16]
Championship
The first ever Big3 Basketball championship was won by team Trilogy as they emerged as the class of the league by completing an undefeated season to win the inaugural BIG3 Championship. In a back-and-forth, a closely contested matchup featuring the league’s two top teams, Trilogy overcame a first-half deficit to defeat 3-Headed Monsters 51-46.
| Advance to playoff |
| # | Team | W | L | Pct. | PF | PA | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CZ Trilogy | 8 | 0 | 1.000 | 412 | 323 | 8 |
| 2 | Y 3 Headed Monsters | 6 | 2 | .750 | 384 | 349 | 8 |
| 3 | Y Power | 4 | 4 | .500 | 382 | 385 | 8 |
| 4 | Y Ghost Ballers | 4 | 4 | .500 | 383 | 384 | 8 |
| 5 | 3's Company | 3 | 5 | .375 | 375 | 400 | 8 |
| 6 | Tri-State | 3 | 5 | .375 | 378 | 393 | 8 |
| 7 | Ball Hogs | 2 | 6 | .250 | 347 | 403 | 8 |
| 8 | Killer 3's | 2 | 6 | .250 | 372 | 396 | 8 |
Notes
- Top 4 teams advance to the playoffs
- C BIG3 champions
- Z clinched best record
- Y clinched playoffs spot
Broadcasting
For the 2017 season, Fox Sports 1 carried the 8 weeks of the regular season and the playoffs on tape delay, while Fox broadcast the championship game live. In 2018, all games will be broadcast live on Friday nights with 4 weeks of games including the semifinals and championship will be aired on Fox, with the remaining weeks airing on FS1. Gus Johnson was the play-by-play announcer, Jim Jackson handled color commentary and Michael Rapaport was the sideline reporter.[17]
References
- ^ Nicholas Parco (January 11, 2017). "Ice Cube announces BIG3 basketball league for former NBA stars, will feature Allen Iverson as player and coach". New York Daily News.
- ^ Big 3 - Fox Sports.com
- ^ "NEW TEAM: Allen Iverson and Dermarr Johnson will Lead 3's Company". BIG3.com. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "NEW TEAM: Rashard Lewis & Jason Williams Reunite on 3 Headed Monsters". BIG3.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- ^ "Mike Bibby & Ricky Davis Unite for Ghost Ballers in the #BIG3". BIG3.com. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ "NEW TEAM: Chauncey Billups & Stephen Jackson unite for KILLER3s". BIG3.com. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- ^ "Corey Maggette & Cuttino Mobley Join Forces on POWER". BIG3.com. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/sports/basketball/nancy-lieberman-big3-league.html
- ^ "NEW TEAM: Kenyon Martin reunites with Al Harrington for TRILOGY". BIG3.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ "Jermaine O'Neal and Bonzi Wells to lead team TRI-STATE". BIG3.com. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ Press, Associated. "New Big3 to have draft next week". Union Bulletin. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ BIG3. "BIG3 SIGNS 10 ADDITIONAL PLAYERS TO UPCOMING DRAFT". www.big3.com. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Conway, Tyler. "BIG3 Basketball League 2017 Draft Results and Full Team Rosters". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ Conway, Tyler. "BIG3 Basketball League 2017 Draft Results and Full Team Rosters". Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/07/17/big3-lands-in-philadelphia-but-allen-iverson-doesnt-play/
- ^ http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/31/allen-iverson-on-casino-tear-after-blowing-off-big3-game/
- ^ Fox’s Big 3 basketball broadcast team: Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson and…Michael Rapaport? awfulannouncing.com. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
