Ice Cube said that the Big3 is now established enough to where he wants 10-week commitments from playersGETTY IMAGES
The Big3 opened its second season Friday with a new Commissioner in Clyde Drexler, a new coach in Nancy Lieberman and several new players, but it has "been a difficult road" for league co-Founder Ice Cube, according to Gary Washburn of the BOSTON GLOBE. When he devised the idea of a three-on-three league for former NBAers, Ice Cube said that he had "no idea of the challenges that followed." There have been "firings, lawsuits, and trouble with player/coach Allen Iverson." Ice Cube said, "This has been one of the hardest things I've done in my career, in my life really, because it was a mixture of trying to convince people what it was and also working on the infrastructure of what it is at the same time as well as promote it and actually do it." He added, "We are still learning and there is still a lot to learn, but we’re definitely going to go into this season with a better foot under us than last season." Ice Cube said that the league is "established enough to where he wants 10-week commitments from the players." Ice Cube: "We want a commitment, we want guys committed to playing the whole year. So I don't think we’re going to ever have an open-door policy where guys can, you know, walk on and play one game." Washburn noted the league this season will "tour new cities, including Boston on Aug. 5" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/24).
WARM WELCOME: In Houston, Parth Upadhyaya noted the Big3 made its "first stop" of the new season at Toyota Center in front of 16,341 fans, and Ice Cube and Drexler were "happy to introduce a new city to the league." Drexler was "more than satisfied with the turnout in his first set of games as commissioner." Drexler: "The guys performed like we know they can. The Big3 is here to stay. (There was) tremendous action. Ice Cube's vision is on track" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/23).
