Did Rapper Ice Cube's BIG3 Basketball Tournament Prove To Be A Success?
Ice Cube’s BIG3 Tournament may have angered the basketball gods. The rapper/actor debuted his 3-on-3 basketball tournament Sunday at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. The seemingly lackluster event featured former NBA stars who may be past their prime. Some players left the game due to injury.
More than 15,000 people attended the game to watch it unfold. Former NBA stars competed in a different brand of basketball, unlike the NBA, this league consisted of half court competition, a 4-point shot, more physical play and no time limit. The first team to reach 60 points wins the game.
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Some may say the allure of the game was the fact that fans would get to watch their favorite retired NBA players play again under the whistle. But the retired players may have proved that even professional athletes have their limits. Three of leagues stars injured themselves during the games and had to come out.
Former NBA star Kenyon Martin hurt his hamstring after he attempted to rebound a loose ball for his team.
"I just reached for the ball," Martin said to reporters after the game Sunday. "I did everything feasible to get loose, my normal routine that I’ve done for 15 years. It’s one of those things. Fifteen years playing in the league, I’ve never done this."
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He added, "It’s the same routine. Because of my age … it’s got nothing to do with that. Something happened. I reached wrong, and I pulled it. You know how many loose balls I’ve reached for in 15 years [in the NBA]? I’ve been playing basketball since I was 10 … I’ve never did this."
Former Sacramento Kings guard Jason Williams also had to sit out. Williams injured his knee during a play and will likely miss a few weeks of basketball activity.
Former Detroit Pistons forward Cory Maggette was added to the list of injured players Sunday as he hurt his knee and left the game.
Though a few players got injured during the games, former Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson remained healthy, but finished with a lackluster performance. Iverson scored just two points and had two assists.
Jason Williams suffers non-contact leg injury at Big 3 League season opener @thebig3 @FOXSports @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/j6D6pWpLWE
— Frank Fiorello (@FrankFiorello) June 25, 2017
"I signed up to be coach, player, [and] captain," Iverson said after the game Sunday. "The coach part is going to go on throughout the game. The playing part is not going to be what you expect. I’m 42 years old, been retired, what, six, seven years?"
He added, "The only reason I get out there for the couple minutes I do get out there is for the fans, you know what I mean? "You’re not going to see the Allen Iverson of old out there."
Fans shouldn’t expect to see the high-flying theatrics they’re used to seeing in NBA games. As spectators may have found out Sunday, the BIG3 tournament is a different brand of basketball with older players that are more likely to get hurt.
The competition holds eight teams and will tour 10 cities across the country.
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