Everything you need to know about Big 3 this summer

Commissioner Clyde Drexler (L) poses with BIG3 founders Ice Cube (C) and Jeff Kwatinetz after the BIG3 2018 Player Draft at Fox Sports Studio on April 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. | Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

If you haven’t heard of the Big 3 yet, you’re bound to soon.

The Big 3 exploded onto the basketball scene last season during its inaugural season.

Co-CEOs Jeff Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson — who is better known as Ice Cube — want basketball fans to know that the Big 3 is so much more than washed up professional players competing in a game of half court 3-on-3 ball.

“It isn’t a retirement league,” Kwatinetz said during a conference call Thursday. “It’s professional basketball.”

Ice Cube believes the Big 3 is a “viable option” for players who are out of an NBA job.

“Se want everybody to look at the Big 3 as an extension of basketball in the summer,” Ice Cube said. “Guys who don’t want to go overseas, guys who don’t want to end their careers … we want them to come to the Big 3. We consider it’s a better stage to showcase their talent in the summer.”

What’s the deal?

There are eight squads in the league. All the teams are made up of six former NBA players.
Games are played to 50 points and a team must win by at least two points. Teams will break for halftime once the first team reaches 25 points.
Players can make standard 2- or 3-point NBA shots. But unlike other leagues, the Big 3 also has a 4-point shot, which can be made from one of the three “4-Point Circles” around the court.
Trilogy will attempt to defend its championship title along with keeping the team’s perfect 10-0 record unblemished. Trilogy will return its roster with the addition of Dahntay Jones.

Schedule

Tickets go on sale Friday online on the Big 3’s website. Prices for Week 2 in Chicago range from $28 to $117, according to TicketMate.

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*