What Happened to BIG3 Basketball League?
The BIG3 Basketball League, founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017, is a professional 3-on-3 basketball league featuring former NBA players and international talent. After years of operating as a barnstorming league, it transitioned to a city-based franchise model in 2025 and is currently in its ninth season, with plans to go public via a $290 million SPAC merger in late 2026.
Quick Answer
The BIG3 Basketball League is thriving, having successfully transitioned to a city-based franchise model with eight teams representing major markets as of its ninth season in 2026. The league announced in June 2026 its intention to go public through a reverse merger with Graf Global Corp, valuing the entity at $290 million. Despite facing a class-action lawsuit from NFT investors regarding unfulfilled ownership promises, the BIG3 continues to expand its broadcast reach with partners like CBS, Fubo Sports Network, and BET, offering a platform for high-level summer basketball.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
BIG3 League Officially Announced
Rapper Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz announce the formation of the BIG3, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league.
Inaugural Season Kicks Off
The first week of BIG3 games takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, marking the league's official debut.
Clyde Drexler Named Commissioner
NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who coached in the inaugural season, is appointed as the second Commissioner of the BIG3, replacing Roger Mason Jr.
League Expands to 12 Teams
The BIG3 announces an expansion from 8 to 12 teams for its third season, along with an increased number of cities and a lowered age limit for players.
Season Canceled Due to COVID-19
The entire 2020 BIG3 season is canceled as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Partnership with Triller Announced
The BIG3 enters a joint venture deal with social media company Triller, aiming to expand its reach to a younger demographic.
Ice Cube Becomes CEO
Ice Cube takes over as CEO of the BIG3, with co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz named President, signaling a shift in leadership.
Meets with DOJ on NBA Antitrust Allegations
Representatives from the BIG3 meet with the Department of Justice to argue that the NBA is in breach of federal antitrust regulations.
Transition to Home Markets Announced, First Team Sold
The BIG3 announces that the 2024 season will be the last under its existing model, transitioning to home markets, and sells the rights to its first location-based team (Los Angeles) for $10 million.
City-Based Franchise Model Implemented
The BIG3 officially transitions to a city-based franchise model, with teams representing specific cities and hosting games.
New Broadcast Partnership with BET
The BIG3 announces a new partnership with BET to re-air 21 hours of league programming in primetime on Monday nights during the 2026 season.
Announces Plans to Go Public via SPAC Merger
The BIG3 enters an agreement with Graf Global Corp, a SPAC, to go public in a deal valuing the league at $290 million, expected to close in Q4 2026.
Fubo Sports Network to Stream 2026 Season
FuboTV announces an agreement to stream the BIG3's 2026 season live on Fubo Sports Network, adding to its broadcast reach.
Ninth Season (2026) Tips Off
The BIG3's ninth season begins at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, featuring a condensed schedule and city-based teams.
Class-Action Lawsuit Filed by NFT Investors
NFT holders file a class-action lawsuit against the BIG3, alleging unfulfilled promises regarding team ownership rights and profit sharing from 2022 NFT sales.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The BIG3 Basketball League was launched on January 11, 2017, by rapper and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, with a vision to create a professional 3-on-3 half-court basketball league for former NBA stars and international players. The league aimed to fill the summer basketball void and offer a platform for seasoned athletes to continue competing. Its inaugural season tipped off on June 25, 2017, quickly gaining traction with its unique rules, including a 4-point shot and a 'Fireball3' variant of 3-on-3 basketball.
Initially, the league operated with eight teams that barnstormed across different cities. A significant turning point came in 2019 when the league expanded to 12 teams, increasing its footprint and player pool. The 2020 season, however, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a challenge to the league's momentum. Despite this, the BIG3 rebounded, seeing a surge in ratings and attendance in its subsequent seasons, particularly in 2023.
A major strategic shift occurred in 2024 and 2025 with the league's transition to a city-based franchise model. This move involved selling team ownership rights to independent investors, with the first such sale for a Los Angeles-based team announced in May 2024 for $10 million. By July 2024, franchises in Houston and Detroit had also been sold, marking a total of $30 million raised through these sales. As of 2025, the league officially began operating with city-based teams, aiming for 12 teams by 2027.
As of July 12, 2026, the BIG3 is in its ninth season, which commenced on June 20, 2026. The league has expanded its media presence, securing broadcast deals with CBS, Paramount+, Fubo Sports Network, and a new partnership with BET for re-airing games in primetime. A monumental development in June 2026 was the announcement that the BIG3 would go public through a reverse merger with the special purpose acquisition company Graf Global Corp. This deal values the league at $290 million, making it the first publicly listed sports league and offering fans and investors a new way to participate in its growth.
However, the league is also navigating legal challenges. In July 2026, a class-action lawsuit was filed by NFT investors who allege that the BIG3 failed to deliver on promises of fractional team ownership, voting rights, and profit sharing from future team sales, which were part of NFT offerings in 2022. The league is contesting the lawsuit and seeking private arbitration. Despite these legal hurdles, the BIG3 continues to pursue expansion, with Ice Cube expressing hopes for an Atlanta franchise and a broader goal of 12 to 24 teams.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if BIG3 Basketball League made different choices?