Ice Cube has accused the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) of blocking plans for an exhibition game between his BIG3 all-stars and the Netherlands’ three-on-three basketball team, which recently won gold at the Olympics.
During an interview with CBS Sports at the BIG3 playoffs in Nashville this past weekend, the rapper turned sports mogul said: “To their credit, [the Netherlands] accepted the challenge but it’s FIBA. FIBA is scared of the BIG3, so FIBA’s preventing them from playing in our all-star game.
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“It don’t look like it’s going to happen because of that. It sucks when politicians get in the way of sports and fandom, but we’re still gonna have a great all-star game, we’re still gonna have a great championship, celebrity game next week. No sweat off our brow.”
Cube put forward his challenge earlier this month after the Netherlands’ three-on-three basketball team beat the USA in a 21-6 rout. The Americans were without their star player Jimmer Fredette due to injury.
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“They got their ass kicked. They need our players, without a doubt,” the N.W.A legend said of Team USA’s heavy defeat. “The whole world can see that.”
He then addressed the future gold medalists, saying: “It’s your homeboy Ice Cube. Whichever country wins the gold medal, y’all need to come to Boston. We gon’ pay for y’all trip to Boston — hotels, give y’all a little cash and let’s see who’s the best in the world.
“We believe that our all-stars will take you down. And if you don’t believe it? We’ll see you in Boston. August 18th, baby.”
UPDATE: Ice Cube says the Netherlands accepted the challenge but
“FIBA is scared of the BIG3 so they are preventing them from playing…It sucks when politicians get in the way of sports and fandom.”
Via @CBSSports | @RADeMitahttps://t.co/9XmOjD4gyNpic.twitter.com/sJw9b2ZOHQ
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 12, 2024
Ice Cube previously made similar claims about the NBA, who he accused of trying to sabotage the growth of his BIG3 basketball league.
“We’re not trying to compete in any shape or form with the NBA. We’re very complimentary,” he said on Joe Rogan’s podcast last year. “So I don’t understand the things that’s being done behind the scenes — encouraging people to not sponsor us, encouraging networks not to play us.”
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He added: “We’ve been able to survive but at a certain point it’s just redundant and ridiculous and we gotta fight back in some shape or form.”
Cube’s claims led to the U.S. Department of Justice investigation the NBA over potential violations of antitrust laws.
In addition to his above complaints, the Friday star claimed that the NBA had implemented rules disallowing their current players from participating in BIG3 games, despite them being free to play in other off-season competitions like the Drew League.
BIG3 officials also believed that the NBA was unfairly targeting them and pressured owners not to invest in their league.
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NBA spokesperson Mike Bass denied all of the allegations, telling TMZ: “Those claims are not true. We have been supportive of the BIG3 since its inception, but we declined to invest.”
However, Cube took issue with the NBA’s statement, replying on social media: “Correction: BIG3 never asked the NBA to invest, we just want them to stop pressuring individuals and corporations not to invest in the BIG3. They must be stopped.”
