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The parking lot at the Crenshaw Imperial Plaza was transformed into a fun zone for kids of all ages last Saturday. People shot free throws while an intense 3-on-3 game was going on a few feet away. Music,
merch and giveaways made the sunny day brighter.
They were there to give a big welcome to actor/director/rapper Ice Cube, as he launches his newest Big 3 Basketball team, the LA Riot. The likable actor/rapper/producer—and now Big 3 Basketball League
Founder—reminisced about his youthful days in Inglewood.
“I used to play not too far from here in my father’s backyard. We would get some epic games together. I always loved 3-on-3. I always wondered why it wasn’t professionalized.”
The Big 3 Basketball League was started eight years ago. “In 2015, we saw Kobe play his last game. You remember that game where he scored 60 points. It was no way we could see Kobe play again and that
didn’t sit well with me.” Ice Cube decided to create his own basketball league–a platform that allowed former NBA players to continue playing the game they love. He launched his Big 3 League in 2017.
“We had a lot of opposition. The NBA did not welcome us,” Ice Cube said. They saw us as a threat. But we weren’t going to let them not supporting our league stop us. We decided to persevere, so on June 14th
we’re going into our eighth season.” Shout out to the event vendors and sponsors: City of Inglewood, Inglewood PD, Hoop Bus, T-Mobile, Planet Fitness, and Grocery Outlet.
“We’re happy to bring the LA Riot to Los Angeles. We’re happy to be in Inglewood with Mayor Butts and Councilwoman Faulk. They welcomed the league with open arms.”
The LA Riot team includes former NBA players Dwight Howard, Jordan Crawford, Elijah Stewart, Jeff Teague, and Wesley Johnson. Nick Young (aka Swaggy P) is the coach. Other NBA greats, now coaching
Big 3 teams are Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, (Chicago Triplets); Michael Cooper (Miami 305); and Gary Payton (Boston Ball Hogs). WNBA Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman coaches the Dallas Power team.
LA Riot will go up against the Boston Ball Hogs on August 9 at Intuit Dome. This will be the Riot’s only live game in L.A. this season, but fans will get to watch 8 teams play.
“You’ll see the whole league—4 (games) for the price of 1. If you happen not to make it, check us out on CBS. It’s cool,” Ice Cube said.
The LA Riot’s season opener against Miami 305 will be broadcast on CBS on June 14. Check your local listings. For the full season schedule, visit https://big2riot.com.
