Ice Cube’s BIG3 professional basketball league is back for its second season, with dates and locations. The league had a successful inaugural run last year and is looking to capitalize on the momentum. Last year’s players included Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Rashard Lewis and Mike Bibby to name a few. This year the league will add Metta World Peace, Amar’e Stoudemire, Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, Nate Robinson and Baron Davis. No doubt more players will decide to join before the season tips on June 22nd at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Last year the league played its games on Sundays, with all eight teams playing in four back-to-back games. The games were then aired on FS1 tape delayed on Monday nights. This season the games will be played on Friday evenings and broadcast live on FS1.
All hasn’t been rosy for the startup league. We reported earlier today that Roger Mason, former league commissioner, has been fired for allegedly taking a bribe. Cube and co-CEO Jeff Kwatinetz stand behind their decision. Mason has since made some stinging accusations against Kwatinetz and Cube. That is worth paying attention to. But, the league is in capable hands with Cube, Kwatinetz, and Chairman Amy Trask.
The full season schedule is below, including the Championship Finals in Brooklyn:
2018 BIG3 SEASON SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 | June 22: Toyota Center | Houston, Texas
WEEK 2 | June 29: United Center | Chicago, Illinois
WEEK 3 | July 6: Oracle Arena | Oakland, California
WEEK 4 | July 13: Little Caesars Arena | Detroit, Michigan
WEEK 5 | July 20: American Airlines Arena | Miami, Florida
WEEK 6 | July 27: Air Canada Centre | Toronto, Ontario
WEEK 7 | August 3: TD Garden | Boston, Massachusetts
WEEK 8 | August 10: Infinite Energy Arena | Atlanta, Georgia
WEEK 9 | August 17: American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas *Playoffs*
WEEK 10 | August 24: Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York *Championship Finals*
