The BIG3, Ice Cube's eight-team, three-on-three basketball league, is banking that its unique format "will prevent it from being a bunch of old-timers games," according to Gary Washburn of the BOSTON GLOBE. The BIG3 will debut June 25 at Barclays Center and will tour 10 cities. Several former NBAers are featured on the five-man rosters, and tryouts "conducted earlier this month in Las Vegas" were "reportedly competitive." BIG3 Commissioner Roger Mason Jr. said, "It's one thing to have a great idea and it's another thing to execute it. We're putting a great team together. The product on the court is the most important thing and making sure the fans have a great experience and enjoy watching the game." The BIG3 has "signed a TV package with Fox Sports, with four games between eight teams in the same arena." The NBA has "wanted basketball to be more of a factor during the summer." Washburn wrote this "isn't the NBA, but this could be a way for fans to get their basketball fix during those months." Mason: "We expect this thing to do well. There are a lot of people out there that are looking forward to seeing these guys compete at a high level" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/14).
