Ice Cube's BIG3 Basketball to Debut this Weekend on CBS and CBS Sports Network

BIG3 to Debut this Weekend on CBS with CBS Sports offering 50 hours of coverage across CBS and CBS Sports Network

Brian Custer, Jim Jackson and Michael Rapaport All Return for Third Season

Experienced Sportscasters Carter Blackburn, Brendan Haywood, Brandon Tierney, Avery Johnson, and Ed Cohen Join The Announcer Lineup

CBS Sports and the BIG3 today announced the broadcast team for the 2019 season, which begins this Saturday, June 22 (8:00 PM ET) on CBS Television Network. The team will again feature longtime play-by-play announcer Brian Custer, analyst Jim Jackson and sideline reporter Michael Rapaport, who will all return for their third campaigns. The lineup will also include new adds Carter Blackburn, Brendan Haywood, Brandon Tierney, Avery Johnson and Ed Cohen.

“Our broadcast team has done an exceptional job providing exciting play-by-play and color around the league’s fierce competition,” said BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz. “We’re excited for the new additions and what they’ll bring our fans during this season’s national television schedule.” 

Gilbert Arenas- new this season

During the 11-week season, games will air live on CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network on both Saturday and Sunday, with a champion crowned live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 1 (3:00 PM, ET). CBS Television Network will broadcast more than 20 hours this season, with CBS Sports Network set to televise more than 25 hours of additional live game coverage.

Blackburn and Cohen will both join Custer as announcers this season. Blackburn, who delivers college basketball and football play-by-play for CBS Sports, has served as CBS Sports Network’s lead announcer since 2014. Cohen is a 15-year veteran who has called a variety of sports including baseball, hockey and Olympic sports. For the past six seasons, he has announced college basketball games for CBS Sports Network.

Lamar Odom, Al Jefferson, Josh Smith - new players this season

Basketball veterans Haywood and Johnson will come on as weekly analysts. After retiring from the court, Haywood joined CBS Sports as a college basketball announcer and analyst. Johnson, who spent 22 seasons as a professional player as well as 10 combined seasons as a pro and collegiate coach, brings several years of in-studio experience to the team.

Tierney, an Emmy-winning television host, panelist and former play-by-play announcer, will serve as a sideline reporter this season—handling in-game updates and interviews with players and coaches. He is the current co-host of CBS Sports Radio’s popular “Tiki and Tierney” afternoon show.

The full televised schedule includes:

Sat 6/22         8:00-10:00 PM (CBS)

10:00-11:00 PM (CBS Sports Network)

Little Caesars Arena

Detroit, MI

                                               

Sun 6/23        1:00-3:00 PM (CBS)

3:00-4:00 PM (CBSSN)

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Indianapolis, IN

Sat 6/29         12:00-2:00 PM (CBS) 

2:00-3:00 PM (CBSSN)

Spectrum Center

Charlotte, NC

Sun 6/30        5:00-8:00 PM (CBSSN)

Liacouras Center

Philadelphia, PA

Sat 7/6           5:00-8:00 PM (CBSSN)

Legacy Arena at the BJCC

Birmingham, AL

Sun 7/7          1:00-3:00 PM (CBS)

3:00-4:00 PM (CBSSN)                 

Start Farm Arena

Atlanta, GA   

Sat 7/13         12:00-2:00 PM (CBS)

2:00-3:00 PM (CBSSN)

Dunkin Donuts Center

Providence, RI

Sun 7/14        12:00-2:00 PM (CBS)

                        2:00-3:00 PM (CBSSN)                 

Barclays Center

Brooklyn, NY

Sat 7/20         3:00-4:00 PM (CBSSports.com)

4:00-6:00 PM (CBS)

Sprint Center

Kansas City, MO

Sun 7/21        1:00-2:00 PM (CBSSports.com)               

2:00-4:00 PM (CBS)

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Oklahoma City, OK

Sat 7/27         9:00 PM-12:00 AM (CBSSN)

                        Vivint Smart Home Arena

Salt Lake City, UT

Sat 8/3           1:00-3:00 PM (CBS)                       

3:00-4:00 PM (CBSSN)

Allstate Arena

Chicago, IL

Sun 8/4          4:00-7:00 PM (CBSSN)

                        Fiserv Forum

Milwaukee, WI

Sat 8/10         8:00-11:00 PM (CBSSN)

                        American Airlines Arena

Miami, FL

Sat 8/17         3:00-6:00 PM (CBS)           

American Airlines Center

Dallas, TX

Sun 8/18        3:00-6:00 PM (CBSSN)

                        AT&T Center

San Antonio, TX

Sun 8/25        Playoff Rounds

12:00-2:00 PM (CBSSN)

2:00-4:00 PM (CBS)

Smoothie King Center

New Orleans, LA

Sun 9/1          Championship Round

3:00-5:00 PM (CBS)

Staples Center

Los Angeles, CA

The 2019 BIG3 Broadcast Roster 🗣🗣🗣#BIG3onCBS starts THIS WEEKEND!
Detroit | June 22 at 8PM ET 📺📺📺
Indianapolis | June 23 at 1PM ET 📺📺📺https://t.co/6y7TmGfemv 🎟🎟🎟 pic.twitter.com/qknTrVUlXj

— BIG3 (@thebig3) June 21, 2019

During the offseason, BIG3 added new top tier players to the league including Jason Terry, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Kendrick Perkins, Shannon Brown, Gilbert Arenas, Al Jefferson, Lamar Odom, Steve Blake, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Carlos Arroyo,and more.

Star players returning this year include Amar’e Stoudemire, Drew Gooden, Nate Robinson, Stephen Jackson, Carlos Boozer, Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen, Rashard Lewis, Metta World Peace, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Corey Maggette, Cuttino Mobley, Jermaine O’Neal, Brian Scalabrine and many more.

Teams will be coached by some of the top legends in the game, including Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving, Gary Payton, Nancy Lieberman, Rick Barry, Lisa Leslie, and George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin.

In addition to Ice Cube and Kwatinetz, the league is guided by Chairman Amy Trask, CEO Amit Bajaj and Commissioner Clyde Drexler.