Ice Cube, hip-hop legend and co-founder of BIG3, admitted that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's farewell game triggered the creation of the basketball league which features mostly ex-NBA players who can still ball.
In an interview with Ben Ladner of Sports Illustrated, Ice Cube recalled Bryant's final game. He said that the idea of starting his own basketball league had already been forming on his mind. And when he saw Bryant nail clutch shot after clutch shot, recording 60 points in the process, that's when he knew that his concept needs to be realized:
“It kind of lay dormant in my head until Kobe scores these 60 points,” Cube said. “And then I realized there’s nowhere to see him play again. So I started thinking, there should be a place to see these guys, because I know they still play.”
He called up his manager and business partner Jeff Kwatinetz and they formed the BIG3.
The likes of Rashard Lewis, Baron Davis, DeShawn Stevenson, Mike Bibby, Carlos Boozer, Cuttino Mobley, Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington, and Allen Iverson, just to name a few, have laced up their basketball sneakers for the BIG3. Legends such as Julius Irving, Gary Payton, Charles Oakley have served as head coaches for the teams. Apart from former NBA players, other ballers have also suited up.
Bryant himself hasn't played in the league. But the BIG3 is quickly evolving. And with Cube's admission that the Laker legend inspired it all, the doors of the league will always be open for Bryant.
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