The BIG3 league's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad opening day
A man makes plans - and the basketball gods laugh.
The initial returns from those in attendance at the inaugural game day of Ice Cube's BIG3 league haven't been kind to the fledgling three-on-three, half-court product. We can only take their word on the matter because the league (or, Fox Sports) is opting to show Sunday's games on tape delay Monday night on FS1.
Agree with crowd saying tape-delay is unfortunate part of Big3 TV deal. Want watch a movie if I already know the ending.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) June 25, 2017
To be fair, tape delay is a pretty common occurrence in fringe sport programming. Just ask any fan of darts, lumberjack competitions, or professional waterskiing.
From the tip, the upstart league was dealt a blow when one of their most high-profile participants, Chauncey Billups, withdrew, evidently to pursue a role in the Cleveland Cavaliers' vacant front office.
At least Chauncey got out with this knees intact. Other weren't so lucky.
Jason "White Chocolate" Williams appears to have suffered a leg injury in the first ever @thebig3 game. Limped off floor to locker room.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 25, 2017
.@Corey_Maggette just went down with an apparent right knee injury. #BIG3
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) June 25, 2017
But the early missteps would have been forgotten if the third of fourth matchups on the slate delivered high excitement.
After all, most of the hoopheads that shelled out hard-earned money to catch a glimpse of live, professional half-court basketball were really there to see Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, the player-coach of 3s Company, making a triumphant return to the hardcourt.
The phones are all out for Allen Iverson's introduction into Barclays for his #BIG3 game. pic.twitter.com/9zDksSKNge
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) June 25, 2017
Iverson's introduction was his greatest triumph of the afternoon, however.
Crowd is now chanting, "We Want AI!" If Iverson plays little/doesn't do much, will be interesting to see if crowd turns on this event.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 25, 2017
This Ball Hogs vs 3's Company BIG3 game has been a struggle. Fans booing. And Allen Iverson is looking WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY past his prime.
— InsideHoops.com NBA (@InsideHoops) June 25, 2017
Uh oh. About 18 straight misses in this third game featuring Iverson's team trigger the first boos of the #BIG3 action.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) June 25, 2017
After about 25 bricks in a row and no Iverson the crowd has turned like Anakin
— Warren Shaw 🇯🇲 (@ShawSportsNBA) June 25, 2017
Iverson may still be The Answer, but the question is: "Which player sold fans a bill of goods?" If you're looking for a silver lining, maybe his showing on Sunday erased the memory of his ill-fated three-game tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Iverson on "We want AI" chants: "I hate it." Said he started the game to try to limit them, but knew he would be hearing them throughout.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 25, 2017
Perhaps the fourth and final game of the day could have redeemed the otherwise mundane spectacle. It didn't matter to many in attendance, though, as beating the traffic seemed to be a bigger draw than the Billups-less Killer 3s squaring off against Kenyon Martin's Trilogy.
It looks like everyone was here for Iverson. The entire crowd is dipping out now. pic.twitter.com/QtuBxpDUC9
— DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) June 25, 2017
Keeping with the theme of the day, it was only fitting that yet another big-name player was added to the injury report.
Kenyon Martin leaves the game holding his right hamstring.
— Steven Tsakanikas (@SteveTsak) June 25, 2017
You can catch the BIG3 next in Charlotte, N.C., on July 2. Or, relive Sunday's event in all its tape-delayed glory Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
Alternatively, the NBA Summer League kicks off in Orlando on July 1, followed by events in Utah and Vegas in the subsequent weeks. Thank goodness.