Big3 Aims to Surpass NBA in Ten Years? Can that happen?

Co-founders Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz plan to expand the 3×3 basketball league through a franchise model.

The Big3, the three-on-three basketball league co-founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz, has set an ambitious goal: to be bigger than the NBA within the next decade.

Moving to a Franchise ModelTo achieve this, the league is transitioning from its current touring and centralized ownership model to a franchise structure similar to other North American sports leagues. All 12 Big3 teams are up for sale, each set to have a designated home market by the next season. In a significant move, the league recently sold its first team for $10 million to a consortium led by investment firm DCB Sports. This team will be based in Los Angeles.

Expansion PlansThe league is not stopping there. According to Kwatinetz, the Big3 is in discussions to establish clubs in Toronto and London, aiming for these franchises to be operational by the start of the 2025 season. “We hope to see it happen,” Ice Cube stated. “We want people to understand that three-on-three basketball is loved all over the world. We should probably be thinking globally about these things, like our league, to bring in as many different areas of the globe that we can. It’s just smart.”

Ownership VisionSpeaking on the SportsPro Podcast, Kwatinetz emphasized the importance of having aligned ownership to grow the league. “We want the owner group to be an asset to our league because ten years from now, we plan on being bigger than the NBA,” he said. “When people are looking at the ownership group, and we’re discussing different marketing strategies or rules, we don’t want knuckleheads voting on stuff. This is our baby. While we welcome other opinions, we need owners who share our values.”

Future AnnouncementsThe Big3 plans to announce three more ownership groups before the 2024 season. Kwatinetz hinted that two of these groups include “owners in one of the major five sports in America.”

ConclusionAs the Big3 continues to evolve and expand, its leaders are focused on creating a global presence and a strong, value-aligned ownership base. With plans for international franchises and significant investment in team ownership, Ice Cube and Kwatinetz are setting the stage for the Big3 to become a major player in the sports world.