Ice Cube's BIG3 League was a success in its inaugural season entertaining basketball fans during the NBA offseason. The three-on-three format brought a different dynamic to the basketball landscape and it could have a bright future ahead with a number of big-name stars from the NBA signing on for the second season which is set to get underway on June 22.
Among the former NBA All-Stars to join the BIG3 for its second season is Carlos Boozer. The 36-year-old forward formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and the Los Angeles Lakers has agreed to join the league and will play alongside Mike Bibby and Ricky Davis as Co-Captain of Ghost Ballers.
Boozer spoke with ClutchPoints about his decision to join the BIG3 as well as a number of different topics including his career in the NBA, the Kobe Bryant-LeBron James debate, the breakout season for Lakers forward Julius Randle, and his time with the organization in Los Angeles.
What motivated you to join the BIG3 League?
CB: I played in China for a year after leaving the NBA. For me, I was returning and going into broadcasting. Just turned 36 and I've still got a crazy love for the game. Still play pickup with my kids all the time. I play pickup with the homies that live around me here in Miami. Some of the pros and ex-pros that played.
When I got the call, the interest was great. At first, I was like I don't know if I want to commit because my summer schedule is kind of busy already, but after talking to [Ice] Cube and talking to Cube more and more. I got very excited about it and I was like, you know what, let's go have a good time. Enjoy it. It's 3-on-3. I got a chance to watch a lot of it from last season. So I saw Chauncey Billups play and I saw Mike Bibby play and I saw K-Mart play. DeMarr Johnson. Different guys that I've known for a very long time and they look like they're having a good time. I have talked to a couple different guys that have played in it already. Ricky Davis told me how much fun that he had. Chauncey told me he had a really good time as well, so I called Cube back. We had a great conversation and said, I'm in.
I'm looking forward to joining Mike Bibby and Ricky Davis and seeing who we can pick in this draft coming up. See if we can get a couple good players and compete for a title.
Is there anyone, in particular, you're looking forward to going up against?
CB: I'm not sure about all the guys that are in it. Me and K-Mart had some really good battles over the years throughout our career. I know me and Amare [Stoudemire] are really close friends. We've had some really good battles over the years as well. It'll be exciting to butt heads with some of the great players that I've been able to play against in the NBA.
For the most part, I'm just looking forward to the experience and getting the chance to compete three-on-three. It's so much fun. There's so much space out there to create with guys really getting after it. It'll be a good time.
Who do you think should join the BIG3 in the future? Have you reached out to any former NBA teammates?
CB: Yeah. I reached out to Nat Rob. Nate Robinson first. He joined right away. So he's in this year as well. Me and Nate are obviously very, very close. We have a podcast together. We're like brothers. As soon as I joined, I called him right away. He got on with Cube and they got their contract all sorted out as well.
Obviously, I want to go play in it myself this year. Experience it for myself. As I get a chance to go through it this season, I'll be able to reach out to more guys who want to know how it was. But it is funny because after I did sign up, I've had a lot of guys reach out to me that are in this year's draft…we only have about 19 spots available, but we have about 80 guys in the draft. That number is continuously growing. Currently, there's a huge interest of players that want to be in the BIG3, so moving forward I feel like it's in a really good position because people are really, really interested in playing in this league.
What are you looking forward to the most during your first season in the BIG3?
CB: Playing. Just playing. Anytime you retire in life at something you like doing and you get a chance to do it again at a high level against really good competition. You get excited about that, so I'm just excited to play. Get a chance to compete and have some fun out there with some of my teammates.
Last year, Ghost Ballers went 5-5 and lost to the eventual BIG3 champion Trilogy in the first round of the playoffs. Will your team take the next step with you in the mix with Mike Bibby and Ricky Davis?
CB: When Bibby had called me and Ricky Davis had reached out about me joining the team, they were basically like if we get you, you're so young, active. Scoring inside and outside. Crazy rebounder. If we can get you, we can get over the hump. There were a couple other teams reaching asking me to join their team as well. I really enjoyed Bibby and Ricky is a great scorer. Bibby is also another great scorer. Very good shooter. Knockdown shooter and great decision maker.
For me, it was a perfect fit. I like to pick and roll a lot. I like to bang. You're going to be surprised that I've extended my range to three-point range, and I heard they have a four-point ball that I'm going to test my hand at. I've been able to check out how they played last year. I think the way we're going to be able to play, the style we will be able to play will be very beneficial for our team. I'm looking forward to it.
Who would you say is the best player in the BIG3 right now?
CB: Can't really pick. I'm a show-me kind of guy. I've got to see guys in person. I've got to see when I get out there. It is kind of the same thing with the draft in the NBA. There are all these guys [Marvin] Bagley,[Deandre] Ayton, and the young kid from Oklahoma [Trae Young].
All these kids are coming out and kids from overseas. I'm a show-me guy. I got to see them in person. With all these kids are coming out and kids from overseas. I'm a show-me guy. I got to see them in person. With my own eyes, play against them. It's hard to pick. We're a couple months away. Who's in shape? Who's out of shape? You can judge a guy from how they played in the NBA, but that was how many years ago?
For me, you've got to be able to see them now and then you'll be able to decide how is the best player.
In your opinion, what would be the best three players for a 3-on-3 team in the history of basketball?
CB: Great question. That's a great question. For me, I would pick Michael Jordan. Personally, I would pick Shaq in his prime. I'm assuming all these guys are in their prime. I pick Mike and Shaq and then three, I need somebody that's incredibly versatile with amazing knockdown threes, but can also get to the hoop. I might go with Kevin Durant.
If I had MJ, KD, and Shaq, that would be an incredible 3-on-3 team, and even as a sixth man, if I could have T-Mac [Tracy McGrady] as my sixth man. That'd be incredible, but those would be my top three.
You were teammates with Julius Randle during your time in Los Angeles. What do you think of his breakout season and how far he's come from that first year?
CB: It is well overdue for him. That kid works his butt off. You know, his rookie year he got hurt his first game and missed the whole season. That was the year that me, Steve Nash, and Kobe [Bryant] were supposed to be able to do our thing, but Steve got hurt in training camp and missed the whole season. Kobe got hurt about 30 games in and missed the rest of the season, so it didn't pan out the way we had planned it, but for Julius, he was in the gym every day doing his rehab.
In the summertime, he slimmed down and got shredded up. He lost all that baby fat that he had coming from Kentucky. It's well overdue, man. The kid is an awesome kid. Awesome guy. He's like a little brother to me. The future for him is extremely bright because he's starting to figure out his niche. In the NBA, you've got a lot of guys that can do one thing really well. Some guys can shoot. Some guys can rebound. Some guys can defend.
Julius can do multiple things very good. He's a very good rebounder. He's very athletic. He's a guy that can get the rebound and bring the ball up himself. Initiate the fast break. He can finish. He's working on his jump shot to make his jump shot better, which is something he spends quality time on every day, and then he's a great defender. He's a shot blocker. He's getting a lot of great experience playing in the Western Conference against a lot of great competition, so he's growing at a faster rate. Honestly, he's a guy that can be an All-Star. I think Luke Walton has him in a very good system that compliments his ability.
In today's NBA where you got power forwards initiating the offense, your playmakers aren't only just your point guards but also your forwards, he's in a great position to succeed and hopefully, he just had a baby and got married last summer, and hopefully, he can stay in Los Angeles. If they don't take care of him, they are going to be regretting it because other teams are going to give him the money and he'll be haunting the Lakers for a long time. His best years of basketball are ahead of him. No question.
What do you think of the new-look Lakers?
CB: They look good, man. I've taken [Kyle] Kuzma under my wing. He's become a very good friend of mine. We met out in Malibu and had a really good dinner. He's been a stud. Obviously, I know about all the hype was around Lonzo [Ball], and it should've been with him being the second pick in the draft, but I think Kuzma might've been the steal of the draft.
This kid is clutch. He's gotten better and better. He's a triple-threat guy. Knockdown a three. He can drive to the hoop. He can play make for his teammates. Makes big plays. Has multiple 30-point games. That kid right there is a future star. He's going to be a perennial All-Star, but the team in general, they got a good little young nucleus, man. I love Julius, obviously. I have a huge bias. I know how hard the kid works. I'm happy for him having this kind of a season and he's only going to get better. I think Kuz, again, like I said, the steal of the draft last year. Has a super bright future in front of him. I like [Brandon] Ingram a lot. Very good one-on-one player. Very versatile.
Obviously, I know Rob [Pelinka] and Magic [Johnson] have a lot of decisions to make this summer as far as free agency and who they want to bring in. They have to figure out how to sprinkle some of those young guys in with some of those stars that they're able to get in free agency.
The Lakers are expected to be going after LeBron James and Paul George and maybe DeMarcus Cousins or the combination of two of those three players. What was your experience like with the organization and what would you say to free agents that might be considering signing with Los Angeles?
CB: Go for it! At the end of the day, the organization is top notch. The Lakers are the Lakers. You are talking about an organization that in sports you mention the Lakers alongside the Yankees and Cowboys. Even though I'm not a Cowboys fan. Eagles fan all the way, by the way.
I'm just saying as far as respect goes. The respect of the Lakers. The respect of the Yankees. The respect of the Cowboys. Amongst sports, in general, speaks for itself. The organization is top notch. They want to succeed. They want to win. In L.A., you don't succeed by making the playoffs. You succeed by putting up banners and winning championships.
The thing about the guys that you named, LeBron, PG, and Boogie, they all know that already. They're already aware of that. So by being recruited to come play for the Lakers, you're being recruited to help restore and bring back a championship there. That's why they have Magic in the front office. That's why they have the people in place because they keep that tradition going. Luke Walton knows that tradition.
My point is, when the Lakers call you to come play for them, it's because they want you to help them win a championship. If that's appealing to you, that's something that all these guys will be thinking about.
Do you have any Kobe Bryant stories from the one season you played with him?
CB: It's different playing with him. He's been a mentor for me. A big brother since I got drafted. Kobe, when I played with him it was obviously toward the end. I think he was about 36 or 37 at the time and he already had a couple of season-ending injuries prior to that season, but he always had a chip on his shoulder.
When I got to training camp, this guy was in incredible shape. He was beating all the rookies. All the Clarksons. I think we had Ronnie Price. All the young guys that we had that were trying to make the team and secure their spot, Kobe was winning every sprint. He was getting there early. Shooting late. He was putting the time in like he was a 21-year-old youngster trying to prove himself at the end of the day and this guy already accomplished five championships and MVPs and gold medals. We won one together in China. And countless All-Star appearances. The second coming of Jordan.
He's already accomplished yet his work ethic was as if he hadn't accomplished anything. That was the beast that Kobe Bryant was when I played with him in 2015. His body just couldn't hold up to what his heart and mind was. That's the only reason why he's not playing now.
Do you think he'd be a good fit in the BIG3?
CB: Kobe can play anywhere. The thing about Kobe is he's smart. He's educated. His basketball I.Q. is through the roof, so he can figure out how to be effective in any basketball environment. Pickup. Practice. Game 7 on the line for the championship. Whatever the stakes are. Whatever the consequences are. Whatever the pressure is.
He'd be a great player in the BIG3. Would he do it? I guess time will tell, but I think he's one of those guys that can fit in any basketball environment. No question.
You played for a few teams during your NBA career. What was your favorite stop or team that you played with?
CB: I was very blessed when Cleveland drafted me. That started my NBA career. My NBA journey. I had a chance to go through that amazing rollercoaster season with LeBron his rookie year which was incredible.
Very fortunate when the Jazz wanted to bring me to Utah. I got a chance to learn from the great Jerry Sloan. Become friends with Karl Malone. He was one of my mentors as well. I kind of grew up in Utah. It gave me a chance to be a star. One week I may play Chris Webber, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and then Kevin Garnett. All in the same week, so it was kind of a sink or swim kind of era.
At that time, the big men were the dominant position in the NBA. The power forward spot was heavy, so I grew up really fast. For me to become an All-Star in the Western Conference in that era to me was something I was very proud of. So Utah was great for me. Great for family.
Chicago was incredible, man. We had a team with a young Derrick Rose who was an MVP and then we had the Defensive Player of the Year, Joakim Noah. We had a bunch of stars around them. We had myself, Rip Hamilton, and Luol Deng. We're all All-Stars playing around the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. We just couldn't keep players healthy, but we had an amazing time in Chicago. We tried our best to beat the Miami Heat when they had LeBron and D-Wade and those guys to get to the championship. We just couldn't keep D-Rose healthy to do so.
Chicago was fun, man. It's an incredible place to play sports. The fans come out. It's a blue-collar town. They support so much. Through all that winter and that blizzard [laughs]. All that stuff. They still come to pack that arena for us, so Chicago was awesome.
And the Lakers were great. It was one of those franchises that as a kid my dad's favorite player was Magic Johnson, so I watched every Lakers game as a kid in the 80's. When I was in college, I was a huge Kobe and Shaq fan because they were most dynamic, dominant duo I'd seen in my lifetime. That was incredible. Obviously, give me a chance to play with Kobe, even if it was toward the end. Honestly, just as much as I was looking forward to playing with Kobe, I was looking forward to playing with Steve Nash. I never got the opportunity to because of the back injury that ended his career, but Steve was one of my favorite point guards to watch throughout my career.
Personally, for me, all four stops were amazing and I have very fond memories for all four places I played in the NBA, so I can't really pick a favorite. Without Cleveland, they birthed my NBA career because they drafted me. Utah gave me the opportunity to grow up and be a star and see how good I can really be. Chicago gave me a chance to win a championship, but we never got there. It was so electric. L.A. was so historic. We didn't do much winning. I had a chance to teach. I was in a mentor role. I had to teach [Jordan] Clarkson how to be a good pro. Had to teach Julius Randle the work ethic how to be really good, so I passed some of the things I learned onto the new generation. All four stops had very good memories for me.
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. You played with both. Who was better and why?
CB: [Laughs] If it was only that simple. They're both so different. I can't sit here and tell you who is better. I got LeBron at the very, very beginning. I got Kobe at the very, very end. So it's different, but as a fan of basketball and someone that played at a high level, they both have an insatiable appetite for winning. They will go through any brick wall. They have tireless work ethic and they both have that have that will when you're down by 20 they can come back in win it. Whatever it takes to win, they that will that they can do it themselves.
They both want to win but they do it in different ways. Kobe believes he can do it by himself. He can score 50 points. He can score 80 points. He can score whatever it takes to win. LeBron loves to get everybody involved. His obviously most passionate asset is passing. He loves to pass more than he loves to score even though we all know he can score whenever he wants to.
They're both winners. Obviously, they're both champions. They're both two of the GOATS that are on the NBA Mount Rushmore for me.
Everybody right now is trying to pick between Michael [Jordan] and LeBron as who the best player ever is, but Kobe was an animal. It's hard to not include him in that conversation because he won five championships. He doesn't get enough recognition being one of the GOATS which is so crazy. All the stuff that LeBron is breaking were Kobe's records like the youngest this and the youngest that. The person before that was Kobe. It's incredible to me they don't give him his just due, but so for me, I think the jury is still out on who is better and all that. We got to see where LeBron ends up at the end of his career, but for me, there's no question that they're both on the Mount Rushmore for me at least in my era.