The BIG3 basketball environment is certainly one of a West Coast summer-style block celebration — fairly actually — bursting with frenetic hip-hop vitality introduced straight to the hardwood.
On the heart is famous rapper and Hollywood A-lister Ice Dice, who, between video games, stands earlier than a BIG3-branded backdrop within the bowels of the Intuit Dome, greeting households and flashing Westside hand indicators as cameras click on.
“It takes a village; all these folks have honed their abilities to be the perfect,” Ice Dice, the league’s co-owner and founder, stated of the environment.
Rooted within the streetball custom of three-on-three hoops performed on neighborhood blacktops, the league rolled out its Summer time within the Metropolis tour — a day-long showcase with eight groups vying for a $1-million championship.
Anthony Anderson, left, and Cedric the Entertainer work as sideline reporters throughout Big3 video games on the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday.
(Chapman Baehler / Big3)
Not shy on manufacturing worth, the occasion provides an unusually intimate setting — gamers mingling casually across the concourse, nearly like an AAU event. Or comedic stars Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer serving as visitor sideline reporters, greeting each fan who stops by with a fast hi there.
However for the South-Central–born rapper, whose league has toured the nation, Saturday’s showcase in Inglewood marked the primary time his hometown crowd may watch one of many BIG3’s latest — and first privately owned — franchises, the LA Riot, play reside.
A franchise namesake born from L.A.’s historical past of tumultuous racial unrest — evoking recollections of the 1992 Rodney King riots — additionally symbolizes a motion, riot and cultural takeover, simply as Ice Dice envisioned.
“It was a dream come true, not too removed from the place I grew up,” Ice Dice stated. “So to have a league like this, proper on the home, is simply lovely.”
After seven years of unaffiliated groups, the BIG3 shifted to a city-based mannequin to domesticate loyal fan bases and promote franchises to native house owners. Utilizing L.A. because the blueprint — with a $10-million price ticket — the hope is to carry long-term stability to the league.
“We’re going to those eight cities yearly,” Ice Dice stated. “We will plan long run, hopefully develop the league to different cities, [who] wish to get in on the act.”
Since 2017, a part of that stability has been constructed on the backs of veteran gamers — athletes properly previous their NBA primes and now not chasing NBA contracts. Amongst them is newly elected Naismith Corridor of Famer Dwight Howard, alongside names like Joe Johnson, Michael Beasley, and Lance Stephenson.
Howard, a member of the 2020 Lakers championship group, made a extremely anticipated return to town the place he performed three seasons throughout three separate stints. Together with his signing, he has turn out to be the face of the Riot, committing to play his last season {of professional} basketball with the membership.
Ice Dice’s Big3 three-on-three basketball league took over the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday.
(Chapman Baehler / Big3)
“It’s our first yr, we’re simply getting began,” Howard stated. “We’re trying ahead to retaining it going. Clearly, the primary yr is all the time just a little troublesome — attempting to get to know one another — however we’re doing an important job.”
Howard has dabbled in possession ventures, investing $7 million to buy the WNBA Atlanta Dream — a deal that later turned out to be a rip-off — and becoming a member of the Asian Event, a world league, as a co-owner and participant for the Taiwan Mustangs.
In his first Big3 season, Howard has witnessed how properly the league connects with its followers, a connection he believes will likely be key to its long-term success.
Christopher Thomas, 35, a lifelong Angeleno who introduced his daughter and greatest good friend to Saturday’s Big3 video games, was rocking a No. 12 Howard Riot jersey. Thomas left the world transformed after initially scoring free tickets via his job.
“I’ve to confess, I by no means heard of the BIG3,” Thomas stated. “Now I’m leaving as a Riot fan, particularly with my boy Dwight Howard on the group.”
For Thomas, the draw went past basketball. It was the environment, fixed vitality between video games and novelty the league provided. The expertise was “one thing new, one thing totally different,” he stated — the type that may have him again within the stands when the BIG3 returns to city.
Making headway in localized markets, Howard — who has performed abroad a number of occasions all through his profession — says the league can even faucet into these worldwide markets with good selections and profitability.
“Oh, worldwide,” Howard stated. “BIG3 worldwide is what we’re searching for.”
On the globalization entrance, the league is planning exhibitions in Australia and Asia, which Ice Dice hopes will come to fruition quickly.
For now, although, the main focus stays on increasing and privatizing throughout the U.S., past L.A., Houston, Detroit and Miami. The BIG3 additionally goals to develop past its present eight-team format by securing traders for 4 city-based groups, after which goals for additional growth down the road.
“We received some good people who find themselves shopping for groups, individuals who may also help us develop the league,” Ice Dice stated. “Not simply signal a test, however to assist us be progressive. Assist us with sponsors. We would like house owners who’re energetic.”
Whereas growth plans proceed to be mentioned behind closed doorways, the league’s public focus stays on its quick, bodily and unpredictable type — all of which was on full show because the motion on the Intuit Dome wound down.
The Riot’s matchup in opposition to the Boston Ball Hogs got here right down to the wire with a playoff berth on the road. Clawing again from a 48-45 deficit, the Riot unleashed determined four-point photographs and dove for free balls galore.
Finally taking the lead, the Riot-friendly crowd spilled from its seats into the walkways surrounding the court docket, watching with bated breath as Jordan Crawford drained a walk-off three-pointer to seal a 52-48 victory.
“On the finish of the day, I can solely accomplish that a lot to get folks overvalued,” Ice Dice stated of the attraction of the Big3. “The basketball must be pure.”
