Although it sounded it like a win-win for basketball fans and Ice Cube, Kobe Bryant will NOT be dusting off his Nikes to play in the BIG3 league.
Molly Carter, chief marketing officer of Kobe Inc., let the chopper fly on the rumored returned to the Associated Press’ Brian Mahoney.
Elsewhere, the celebrated 3-on-3 basketball league just wrapped up its second season this past Friday, August 17.
[This post has been updated. The following was originally published earlier today, August 21, 2018.]
The last time NBA legend Kobe Bryant stepped onto a professional hardwood, he scored 60 points.
In a recent interview with CBS, Ice Cube expressed how much he loved giving older athletes with drive left in their game the opportunity to play in his BIG3 basketball league.
Could these two basketball forces be eyeing some sort of synergy agreement?
According to Basketball Society’s Brandon Robinson a.k.a. Scoop B, the 5x World Champ will play in Cube’s BIG3 next season. The news reportedly came from league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz during a weekly conference call.
Cube, obviously a longtime Laker fan, has been attempting to recruit Bryant since his 2016 retirement and it appears he may have finally gotten his wish.
Bryant’s inclusion in the burgeoning BIG3 would work wonders for the fan draw. As the NBA’s third-leading all-time scorer, 2008 NBA MVP, 18-time All-Star (4 All-Star MVP’s) and 2-time NBA Finals MVP to go along with the five rings, it goes without saying that arenas would pack out to see if #24 still has the juice.
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LIES, I WILL not be PLAYin WITH THOSE BUMS. IF anything id consider my LAKERS COMEBACKKKK
That’s what I am talking about.
Would you play if Mike was playing…Kobe?
That’s What’s up! Ice Cube still doing it big for the Hip Hop Culture if Kobe Bryant only shows up to watch game , I would to see Kobe play again but I got to ask is Jordan Charlotte Bobcats or Dominic Atlanta Hawks 1-2 deal on the table this would be good business for Kobe ,The NBA , The City’s , Nike and the fans .
That his going out a** hole back wards from a living legend. I wouldn’t stoop to that level. Thats beneath him. If he wants to get back into basket ball either come out of retirement, or buy his own team. BIG3 is a bad joke!!!
Hater!?
I totally agree 100%!!!!!! Kobe should go back to the Lakers where he belongs!
I don’t see anything negative about Kobe Bryant playing for the Big3 league. I understand he is an nba legend, but how do you help yourself by saying the a league that another black man founded is beneath you? Maybe he didn’t say those words but if anything support the man. Not many people who own a fucking league let alone a black owner.
What does being black have to do with anything?
Because there aren’t that many Black-owned businesses especially on the level of sports league ownership. Plus its good for another Black man to help his brother because its economic empowerment which can lead to other positive things.
Kobe Bryant is going to come out of retirement and win another 2 championships with Lebron James. So exciting
Kobe is way to big for the Big 3 and rumors of one more ring in LA sounds way better than the pick up games Ice Cube is running
Big 3 is a joke. No one watches those pick up games. Kobe is way too big for that shit. Sorry, Cube. Holla at Lamar Odom, maybe he’s down for it.
The Big3 is still basketball. It’s kind of cool to see some of the guy I grew up watching. Chris Jackson/Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf still looks like he could play in the NBA.
I mean, shooting hoops in front of the building is basketball too – doesn’t mean one of the biggest names in the sport EVER is going to play with.
Some will pay $600 for white designers sweat shop clothes, but won’t support a black league. Weak.