Ice Cube and FOX Sports Ink Deal to Broadcast the Inaugural Season of BIG3 3-on-3 Basketball
11-Time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, Julius 'Dr. J' Erving, Chauncey Billups, Jason 'White Chocolate' Williams and Kenyon Martin Highlight Impressive Roster of Confirmed Players & Coaches
Games Televised Mondays on FS1 with Championship Game Airing Live on FOX
It was announced today that FOX Sports landed broadcast rights to the BIG3, the highly anticipated professional 3-on-3, half-court basketball league launching June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. BIG3 Founder Ice Cube and President & Commissioner Roger Mason Jr. made the official announcement this morning on FS1's SKIP & SHANNON: UNDISPUTED. The first BIG3 show airs Monday, June 26 (8:00 PM ET) on FS1.
"This is a big day for the BIG3," Ice Cube said on UNDISPUTED. "We are very excited … we've been waiting for this day. It's extremely exciting to be here with FOX Sports. They definitely see the picture and see the great things we are trying to do."
The eight-team, first-year league tips off with four games on June 25 at the Barclays Center. Teams travel to 10 different cities throughout the season, playing all games back-to-back each Sunday in the same venue. FOX Sports presents games the following night in primetime. The league championship airs Saturday, Aug. 26 live on the FOX broadcast network.
"This is an ideal fit for FS1," said Charlie Dixon, FOX Sports EVP of Content/Original Programming. "It will be appointment viewing for any basketball fan, showcasing star-power, fiery personalities and classic matchups on the court."
Featuring professional basketball's first four-point shot, BIG3 games will be packed with highly skilled, intensely competitive matchups in the world's most popular form of basketball – 3-on-3. The winning team will be the first to score 60 points. BIG3 games highlight experienced players with elite skill and ability to play at the top, competitive level. The league structure encourages this incredibly competitive group of players to vie for a revenue share based on final league standings.
"3-on-3 basketball is the most common format of the game, played competitively on courts and playgrounds around the globe," said David Nathanson, FOX Sports Head of Business Operations. "Couple the popularity of 3-on-3 basketball with some of the most recognized recently retired athletes from the NBA, and you have the potential for a winning formula."
BIG3 has garnered growing attention thanks to an impressive roster of basketball legends, headlined by player captains Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups, Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, Rashard Lewis, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette and Mike Bibby. The coaching lineup includes Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Clyde Drexler, Charles Oakley, George Gervin and Gary Payton, among others.
The FOX Sports broadcast team for BIG3 games and the remainder of the schedule will be unveiled shortly.
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