NEW YORK — Rap mogul Ice Cube is set to kick off a new 3-on-3 basketball league next summer and is employing a new Hall of Famer as his “Answer” to drum up excitement.
Allen Iverson – inducted in to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this past September – appeared Wednesday morning at a news conference in New York City to announce the launch of Big3.
The eight team league will tip off June 24 and begin their 10-week season, followed by a set of two-week playoffs.
Along with Iverson, a bevy of former NBA stars are signed on to play in this kickstart league. Mike Bibby, Chauncey Billups, Rashard Lewis, Jason Williams and Kenyon Martin are among some of the names who will suit up in the Big3 league to rejuvenate some nostalgia of days past.
Fellow Hall of Famers Gary Payton and George Gervin will serve as coaches in the league as well.
Straying away from tradition in more aspect than one, games will take place on a half-court setting and won’t institute a shot clock – winners will be decided by the first team to reach 60 points.
A four-point play will also be in the cards with the non-traditional rules of play.
While in the Big Apple, Iverson stopped by the Knicks game Wednesday night against the Bulls.
The guard who spent most of his career just down the turnpike in Philadelphia embraced the New York players, and showed what Knicks guard Derrick Rose described as “hood love.”
? x The Answer. #NYKvsCHI #Knicks pic.twitter.com/nYiWaEHXOZ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 13, 2017
New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy caught up with Rose after the encounter.
“That was my first time ever meeting him like that. He’s an icon. He was someone I looked up to ever since I was younger,” Rose said to Bondy. “He changed the game on and off the court. And one thing I learned from him is always be yourself.”
The meeting of former MVP’s was short lived though.
“That’s hood love. A little hood love right there,” Rose said. “You don’t got to say much.”
After the former MVP’s wrapped up their greeting, Iverson embraced a Knicks player who fans hope will have MVP aspirations of his own in the future, second-year forward Kristaps Porzingis.
Iverson told the budding star, “You’re doing everything the right way. I love to see it.”
Words of encouragement for @kporzee from @alleniverson! ?? #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/c7T1zqJwkd
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2017
Photo: Bleacher Report
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