Ice Cube performs during halftime of a BIG3 game on July 17, 2022. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty … More
For its eighth season, the BIG3 will have a basketball team based in Chicago.
“It’s obviously an amazing sports city,” BIG3 co-CEO Jeff Kwatinetz exclusively shared. “It supports BIG3. It supports basketball in general.”
Kwatinetz, an entertainment executive, co-founded the 3-on-3 basketball league with hip-hop star Ice Cube.
Chicago is one of eight cities, including Dallas, Baltimore/Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston, Miami and Houston, which will have a BIG3 team when the season tips off on June 14.
The BIG3 had been a traveling road show going to a different city each summer weekend. But the new model will entail only traveling to markets that have a team.
In addition to the money that the new model will provide, Ice Cube and Kwatinetz also sought out club owners as a way to further engage the local markets and add more people with sports expertise.
“Having owners who can unlock the fanbase in their cities,” Ice Cube said, “is just the next step in our history.”
Last year the BIG3 played with 12 teams, but Kwatinetz emphasized that going from 12 to eight is not a sign the league is contracting for financial reasons. In fact, the BIG3 will likely expand back to 12 teams next year.
“It’s more about making sure that we succeed in these eight cities because once you succeed in these eight cities,” he said, “we’ll know what worked and didn’t work in building those fanbases.”
The BIG3 games averaged about 12,000 in paid attendance last season and will be broadcast again on CBS. The league, which prides itself on being progressive and having had female head coaches like Lisa Leslie and Nancy Lieberman, had a viewership that is 45% female and 51% non-white.
BIG3 Owners
The ownership group of the Chicago team — called the Triplets — hasn’t been finalized, but other team owners have a background in sports.
“We didn’t want to get guys — billionaires — and this is just a toy that they didn’t really focus on,” Ice Cube said. “We want guys who are dedicated.”
The owner of the Los Angeles Riot franchise is Shawn Horwitz. He has a background in community development in Los Angeles and also owns an English football club that was promoted to the Premier League after his investment.
The investors in the Miami 305 are led by media, sports, real estate and hospitality executive Heath Freeman, who is also executive chairman of the AVP beach volleyball league.
Houston Rig Hands owner Eric Mullins, the chairman and CEO of Lime Rock Resources private equity firm, has played in the NFL, and his BIG3 co-owner Milton Carroll holds a minority stake in the Houston Astros.
Each of these BIG3 clubs were sold for about $10 million.
Coaching and Stadium Options
The seven other franchises will be coached by notable figures. Gary Payton will coach the Boston Ball Hogs, Lieberman will coach the Dallas Power, George Gervin will coach the Detroit Amplifiers, Stephen Jackson will coach the DMV Trilogy, Calvin Murphy will coach the Rig Hands, Nick Young will coach the Riot and Michael Cooper will coach the 305.
The Triplets haven’t officially named their coach yet, but a source close to the situation revealed that it will be an NBA Hall of Famer.
The stadium for the Chicago Triplets also has not been announced, but there are many possible venues, including United Center, Wintrust Arena, Allstate Arena and Credit Union 1 Arena.
Kwatinetz, who attended Northwestern University, is enthused about the BIG3 having a permanent home in The Windy City.
“People show up. The fans are great,” he said. “Chicago is such a great sports city.”
