Ice Cube and his fellow BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz believe that their offer to sign Caitlin Clark to their league was never presented to her as her agents are allegedly in cahoots with the NBA.
Last month, the California native offered the all-time NCAA leading scorer $5 million to play in his three-on-three basketball league, which would make her the first woman to do so. However, she was later picked by the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA draft. Her four-year contract reportedly totals to approximately $338,000 (an average of about $84,500 a year).
In an open letter penned by Kwatinetz and shared on the N.W.A veteran’s website, the two accused the prodigy’s agents of working for the “NBA mob.”
“We have reason to believe these male agents and executives controlling the sport never even shared our trailblazing offer with Caitlin let alone facilitated Caitlin meeting with the BIG3 to discuss the opportunity,” it reads.
“From our perspective, these representatives don’t seem to work for an individual client like Caitlin. They seem to work for the NBA mob, as their client list is a who’s who of NBA players.
“Do we expect them to prioritize Caitlin over the NBA – the top employer of their most highly paid clients? The NBA commands by fear, and they make sure their industry of agents, lawyers, managers and networks stay in line. And that line is to prevent BIG3 success, even if it stunts the growth of women’s basketball. Amid current negotiations of critical NBA new media deals, you can imagine the pressure on the NBA feeder system easily trumps any of Caitlin’s or other promising woman players’ best interests.”
The public statement went on to describe the money she could have made by signing with BIG3, which would be far more than her current contract: “Ten million dollars of salary over two years, a percentage of team ownership worth millions, fifty percent of merchandising revenues from her name and likeness and ownership of a BIG3 documentary with a seven-figure advance. In total, we’re talking fifteen million dollars or more to merely play a ten-game season. While still allowing her to play in the WNBA.”
For her part, Clark appeared to brush off the BIG3 offer soon after it went viral online.
“To be honest, I found out about the Big3 thing at the exact time you all did, and my main focus is on just playing basketball,” she said.
“I honestly don’t talk about those things with really anybody. I have other people that deal with it, and they haven’t said a word to me about it. My main focus is on this team and helping us find a way to beat Colorado and hopefully win another one after that.”
I’m not buying it. Cube is using this as marketing for the Big 3 which just doesn’t draw much attention. They can’t afford to pay the players they have 1 million dollar salaries all of a sudden they are going to pay Clark 5 million?? Naw. Her agent who it would be in their best interest themselves for her to make the most money is just not going to look at your offer? This is because they knew the offer wasn’t legit to their standards. It doesn’t even make sense for her to play against men. Also her brand growth is based off her playing against the best women in the world. That’s the Wnba. Which is more popular than the big 3. Cube wanted the meeting for the attention it would have gave the big 3. But really nobody wants to see her in the Big 3. Also Cube keep trying to get us into buying that the NBA is threatened by the Big 3, come on man that would be like the NFL being concern by arena football.
Cube had no business dipping in that WG’s business. Above every multi-hyphenate he can call himself, RAPPER stands out above everything. Now, did he really think this WG wants to work for a RAPPER? Her joining whatever he’s doing would be the biggest L of her life, and Cube’s been taken a helleva lot of L’s lately. It’s sad to watch.
i see sponsorship & tv money but venues look empty but if they say its makin money congrats, i only watch nba playoffs at this point so 3 on 3 with retired vets doesnt interest me