Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league continues to build on the momentum from its January launch. Today the league announced the signings of Smush Parker, Kenny Anderson, Jamario Moon, Ruben Patterson and Etan Thomas to the upcoming draft. It would appear that Smush has been unable to get buy in from Kobe to be a part of a team, so he will have to be selected by one of the league’s teams.
The BIG3 will hold a combine for all players in the draft pool in April. During the combine player captains, co-captains along with the coaches and league executives will watch draft players compete in scrimmages, run drills, and complete strength and conditioning workouts. Following the combine, the BIG3 will hold a draft with each of the eight teams’ captains filling out their five player rosters.
The league continues to attract very good former NBA players and President Roger Mason Jr, hopes it continues, saying:
There has been an outpouring of interest from our professional basketball community. We are so excited to bring quality players to the draft. We are building something special with this league. A league for the players, by the players.
Things will not always go smoothly for the rookie league. There will certainly be growing pains but buy in and commitment from former NBA players is huge. The key will be the product on the court. If the play is exciting and high quality people will watch and spend money to see games in person.