BIG3

BIG3

BIG3 official logo
Sport	Basketball
Founded	January 11, 2017 (2017-01-11)
Founder	Ice Cube Jeff Kwatinetz
Inaugural season	2017
Commissioner	Clyde Drexler
No. of teams	8
Country	United States
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Venue(s)	10
Continent	FIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent champion(s)	Power (1st title)
Most titles	Power (1 title) Trilogy (1 title)
TV partner(s)	Fox, FS1
Official website	BIG3.com

BIG3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league, featuring mostly retired National Basketball Association (NBA) players. The league was created by rapper/actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz.

History

On January 11, 2017, Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz announced their new 3-on-3 basketball league at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel, in New York City.^[1]

After the conclusion of the inaugural season, awards were voted on by the players. The MVP was won by 3 Headed Monsters forward Rashard Lewis after he averaged 21.3 points per game. Trilogy's undefeated season led to several awards for members of the team including DPOY won by James White and Coach of the Year awarded to Rick Mahorn.

Adidas and the BIG3 league announced on April 3, 2018, that they agreed upon a three-year deal for Adidas to provide uniforms, apparel, and fan merchandise including tees, hoodies, and hats for The BIG3 League.

Rules

The rules of BIG3 differ considerably from FIBA-sanctioned 3-on-3 (branded as 3x3) games. They are as follows:

• Like FIBA-sanctioned 3x3, games are played on a half-court.
• Standard two- and three-point shots apply; the three-point line is the same distance as in the NBA. (3x3 uses the FIBA arc, with shots from outside the arc worth 2 points and all others worth 1.)
• Unique to BIG3 are three "four-point zones" on a circle 30 feet away from the basket. One is on the midline of the court; the other two are 40 degrees away from the midline. To score four points, a player's foot must be touching any part of a circle.
• Instead of a jump ball to start the game, the "home" team inbounds first. The home team is determined by a do-or-die 4-point shootout. Compare with 3x3, in which the first possession is determined by a pregame coin toss, with the winner choosing whether to take possession at the start of a game or the start of a potential overtime.
• The shot clock runs 14 seconds, as opposed to 12 in 3x3.
• Additional free throw is taken if a player is fouled while making a shot.
• A shooting foul awards one free throw, worth the same number of points as the fouled shot. Two-point shots are taken from the free throw line, three-point shots from the three-point line, four-point shots from the midline four-point circle. The free throw is awarded whether or not the fouled shot hits the basket. 3x3 follows standard FIBA rules for free throws after shooting fouls, with the exception of bonus situations (see next item). Normally, if the basket attempt was made, one free throw is awarded, and if the basket attempt was missed, a number of free throws equal to the value of the shot attempt is awarded. Additionally, all free throws in 3x3 are worth 1 point, as they are in standard full-court basketball.
• Similar to 3x3, fouls are ascribed to the team; players cannot foul out. However, the bonus free throw rules differ between the two rule sets. In BIG3, after the fifth team foul in each half, opponents are guaranteed two one-point free throws and possession of the ball. Teams do not enter the bonus in 3x3 until the 7th team foul in a game, at which point the non-fouling team receives two free throws, but not possession. Only on the 10th team foul does the non-fouling team receive two free throws and possession. Under FIBA 3x3 rules, the normal rules for free throws on shooting fouls are specifically superseded by the bonus rules.
• A team's first technical foul results in one two-point free throw and possession. Additional technical fouls, as well as all flagrant fouls, result in two two-point free throws and possession. In 3x3, fouls classified as "technical" result in one (1-point) free throw and possession during open play, and "unsportsmanlike" fouls (essentially the same as "flagrant" fouls in BIG3) result in two free throws and possession.
• To win, a team must score 50 or more points and lead by at least two points. This also means that overtime is not used in BIG3. In 3x3, the game ends by rule after 10 minutes of play, or if a team reaches at least 21 points, with no required victory margin. If the teams are tied, 3x3 uses an untimed overtime with the shot clock enforced, and the first team that scores 2 points in the overtime wins.
• Halftime happens after one team reaches 25 points. 3x3 has only a single period of 10 minutes.
• Each team receives two timeouts—a 60-second and a 30-second—per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over. 3x3 allows only one timeout per team.
• Substitutions can be made on a dead ball or by calling a timeout.
• After a score, a referee must touch the ball. After giving the defense 3 seconds to set, the opposing team must take the ball beyond the top out-of-bounds line. Player has 5 seconds to return the ball inbounds. In 3x3, a referee is not required to be involved in a change of possession after the score. Instead, the non-scoring team takes possession of the ball directly under the basket, and at that point is free to dribble or pass the ball, but no shot is legal until the ball has been cleared beyond the arc.
• Defensive rebounds must be cleared if the ball touched the rim. If the ball did not touch the rim, defensive rebounds do not need to be cleared. In 3x3, all defensive rebounds must be cleared.
• Steals do not have to be cleared, unlike in 3x3.
• The ball is cleared when the player with the ball establishes both feet behind the 3-point line. The ball can be cleared by dribbling or passing. This rule is identical to 3x3.
• A defensive rebounder who makes a direct pass that clears the ball must clear the lane and re-establish himself before his team's shot or pass hits the rim.
• If, following a defensive rebound after the ball touches the rim, the rebounding team shoots or passes before clearing the ball and the ball hits the rim, it results in a turnover. This rule is identical to 3x3, and in that variant also extends to all changes of possession.
• Once a team has cleared the ball and establishes itself on offense, the normal "3 seconds in the key" rule applies.
• There is no defensive "3-second" rule, unlike in 3x3.
• Instant replay applies and can be used to determine 3 and 4-point shots, out-of-bounds, flagrant fouls, goaltending, basket interference and clearance.
• All defensive strategies are allowed, including hand-checking, which is banned in the NBA.^[2]
• The ball used in BIG3 is the size 7 ball used in the men's full-court game (standard circumference 29.5 in/75 cm, standard weight 22 oz/620 g). All adult 3x3 competitions, whether for men, women, or mixed teams, use a ball unique to that game. The weight is the same as that of a size 7 ball, but the circumference is that of the size 6 ball (28.5 in/72 cm) used in the women's full-court game.

Current teams

Draft

Player selections

Round	Pick	Player	Team	NBA experience	Last team	Last played
1	1	Andre Owens	Ball Hogs	2 years	BC Zepter Vienna	2015
1	2	Andre Emmett	3's Company	2 years	Jeonju KCC Egis	Active
1	3	Alan Anderson	Killer 3's	8 years	Lakeland Magic	Active
1	4	Chris Andersen	Power	15 years	Cleveland Cavaliers	2017
1	5	David Hawkins	Tri-State	none	Galatasaray	2013
1	6	Lee Nailon	Ghost Ballers	6 years	Panteras de Aguascalientes	2014
2	7	Corsley Edwards	Ball Hogs	1 year	İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi B.K.	2014
2	8	Jason Maxiell	3's Company	10 years	Detroit Pistons	2017
2	9	Ryan Hollins	Killer 3's	10 years	Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino	2017
2	10	Quentin Richardson	Power	13 years	New York Knicks	2013
2	11	Salim Stoudamire	3 Headed Monsters	3 years	Guaros de Lara	2013
2	12	Robert Hite	Tri-State	1 year	Canton Charge	2013
2	13	Marcus Banks	Ghost Ballers	8 years	Al-Gharafa SC	2016
3	14	Jermaine Taylor	Ball Hogs	2 years	Salt Lake City Stars	2018
3	15	Derrick Byars	3's Company	1 year	Delaware 87ers	2017
3	16	Mike James	Killer 3's	12 years	Texas Legends	2015
3	17	Ryan Gomes	Power	8 years	Los Angeles D-Fenders	2016
3	18	Bonzi Wells	Tri-State	10 years	Capitanes de Arecibo	2010
3	19	Mario West	Ghost Ballers	4 years	Juventud Sionista	2015

Notes
Last team does not only refer to NBA teams, it also refers to overseas play such as Euroleague, NBL or any other major international league
Last played refers to last year of being active in any basketball league

Most recent season recap

Awards

Broadcasting

For the 2017 season, Fox Sports 1 carried the 8 weeks of the regular season and the playoffs on tape delay, while Fox broadcast the championship game live. In 2018, all games will be broadcast live on Friday nights with 4 weeks of games including the semifinals and championship will be aired on Fox, with the remaining weeks airing on FS1. In 2017 Gus Johnson was the regular play-by-play announcer, though Brian Custer filled-in occasionally, Jim Jackson handled color commentary and Michael Rapaport was the sideline reporter.^[19] For 2018 Custer was promoted to be the regular play-by-play announcer while Jackson and Rapaport returned.

References

External links

• Official website