The BIG3, Ice Cube’s summer basketball league featuring former NBA stars and other pro players, added a bevvy of big names to its rosters for season 2, including Amar’e Stoudemire, Nate Robinson, Metta World Peace, Chris “Birdman” Anderson and several others.
Cube was hoping to build on the success of the league’s inaugural season last summer when fans came out in droves during its 10-city tour. The chance for fans to get an up-close look at their favorite retired NBA greats is a big part of the overall attraction, and the novelty of the four-point shot and the playground style 3-on-3 format held some additional allure.
But Cube understands that starpower is the engine driving this endeavor, and to that end, he never stops recruiting from the pool of recently-retired NBA legends. His favorite target of late has been Kobe Bryant, although the former Lakers star has apparently been reluctant to lace up his signature sneakers again
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“He always turned me down,” Cube said. “Next time I see you Kobe, I’m gonna ask you again…It may take him another year or so to get the itch, but whenever he get the itch, we here to scratch it.”
Kobe has plenty to keep himself occupied in retirement. When he’s not putting out his wildly popular “Detail” series, in which he breaks down game film on a particular player or team, he’s teaching his daughter’s AAU squad on how to properly run the Triangle Offense.
In light of Shaq’s absurd belief that Kobe might consider returning to the Lakers this season to play alongside LeBron, the BIG3 seems much more doable for Kobe, given his age and his injury history. Here’s hoping he develops that itch sooner rather than later.
