NBPA Deputy Exec Dir of Player Relations Roger Mason Jr. is leaving his position to partner with actor Ice Cube and investors to "bring a summertime league called the BIG3 -- a three-on-three, half-court basketball league -- to cities and venues starting in June," according to Adrian Wojnarowski of THE VERTICAL. Ice Cube is the founder of the new league -- "along with his longtime business partner," Jeff Kwatinetz. Ice Cube said that he has been "intimately involved in the planning, development and execution of the league’s start-up." The actor said that until Mason was recruited to leave the NBPA, he had "considered taking on the responsibilities of being the BIG3 commissioner." The BIG3’s bet is that the "skills and shot-making of players will be compelling without running up and down the floor and the taxing of bodies on a nightly basis." The plan is for the eight teams to be a part of a "four-game basketball festival amid musical acts and entertainment." The league would "start on June 24 and play for 10 consecutive weeks, touring cities throughout the summer." Sources said that the league has been "working to secure a television rights deal." Ice Cube: "I’m totally involved in this. I’ve even neglected a little bit of (my) other work to focus on the infrastructure of this league -- how it’s going to be put together -- so that the fan and players get the league that they deserve."
EXPERIENCE INCLUDED: Mason has "played a sizable part in the NBPA’s transition" under Exec Dir Michele Roberts. He "spearheaded the union’s movement to provide tens of millions of dollars in health care and increased benefits to retired and elderly ex-players." Mason has been a "strong conduit to the league stars -- as well as the rank-and-file players -- in the rebuilding of the players association." He has "worked closely with the NBA’s Competition Committee, comprised of top general managers and coaches, and has told league officials that he plans to use the processes learned there to map out the BIG3’s rules, style of play and roster mechanisms to create a competitive playing environment" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/23).
