Ice Cube's BIG3 Brings the Heat to Inglewood

Ice Cube's BIG3 league is more than just a basketball game; it's a full-blown party with a West Coast vibe. The energy is electric, and it's all thanks to the legendary rapper and co-owner of the league. He's not just there to watch the games; he's mingling with fans, taking photos, and soaking up the atmosphere. The BIG3 is all about three-on-three streetball, but it's not your average pickup game. This league has a $1 million championship on the line, and it's not afraid to show off its production value. Players are seen casually hanging out around the concourse, and comedic stars like Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer are serving as sideline reporters, greeting fans and adding to the fun. For Ice Cube, the BIG3's stop in Inglewood was a special one. It was the first time his hometown crowd could watch one of the league's newest franchises, the LA Riot, play live. The name of the franchise is a nod to L. A. 's history of racial unrest, but it's also a symbol of a movement and cultural takeover, just as Ice Cube envisioned. The BIG3 has been around for seven years, but it recently shifted to a city-based model to cultivate loyal fan bases and sell franchises to local owners. Using L. A. as the blueprint, the hope is to bring long-term stability to the league. Ice Cube is already looking ahead to expanding the league to other cities. The league has also built its stability on the backs of veteran players, athletes well past their NBA primes. Among them is newly elected Naismith Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, who has become the face of the Riot. Howard has dabbled in ownership ventures before, but he's excited about the potential of the BIG3. Fans like Christopher Thomas are also excited about the BIG3. Thomas brought his daughter and best friend to the games and left as a Riot fan, especially with Dwight Howard on the team. The draw for Thomas was not just the basketball, but the atmosphere and the novelty the league offered. The BIG3 is also looking to expand internationally, with exhibitions planned in Australia and Asia. But for now, the focus remains on expanding and privatizing within the U. S. The league aims to grow beyond its current eight-team format by securing investors for four city-based teams, and then aims for further expansion down the line. The Riot's matchup against the Boston Ball Hogs came down to the wire with a playoff berth on the line. The Riot-friendly crowd spilled from its seats into the walkways surrounding the court, watching with bated breath as Jordan Crawford drained a walk-off three-pointer to seal a 52-48 victory.