Latest news with #BIG3
Business Wire
a day ago
- Business
- Business Wire
BIG3 and iHeartMedia Announce Multiplatform Partnership
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the BIG3 announced a partnership with iHeartMedia, the #1 audio company in the U.S., that will bring BIG3 games and content to new audiences through iHeartMedia's expansive multiplatform network; and names iHeartRadio – the all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service – the audio home of BIG3 games. The league's eighth season tips off on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in Chicago, IL at Allstate Arena at 4pm ET live on CBS with play-by-play on iHeartRadio, followed by two hours of live games on VICE TV. Tickets for all BIG3 season eight games are available now at 'iHeart has the incredible capacity to reach hundreds of millions of potential BIG3 fans – their audience network is unparalleled. No other company can do what they do,' said BIG3 CEO Ice Cube. 'Not only do they have a content lineup that blends the hottest music and entertainment with first-class sports analysis and commentary, but they have the unique capability of meeting people where they are, whether that be on podcasts, streaming, or through broadcast radio across every possible genre and taste. Our goal is to not only set the stage for the best 3-on-3 basketball in the world, but also to make the game more accessible to all, and iHeart's ability to amplify the BIG3 brand is extraordinary. This partnership is the culmination of a years-long valued relationship and I could not be more pleased to be taking things to the next level this summer through this substantial deal.' In addition to BIG3 games streamed live on iHeartRadio, the deal includes a cross-marketing collaboration of both brands throughout the BIG3 season with promotion nationally across iHeartMedia's multiple platforms including broadcast radio, podcast digital, social and live events, with a heavy focus in 'game' markets including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and others. iHeartMedia will receive the official national jersey patch on all eight of the league's new city-based teams, premium sponsorship elements such as high-visibility logo placement on the court and in-arena, featured radio and podcast appearances by BIG3 personalities, VIP hospitality experiences, exclusive contesting, giveaways, and other elements. 'We are very excited about our new partnership with BIG3 and having the opportunity to provide play-by-play coverage and promotional support to build further brand awareness, introducing the game to millions of more fans,' said Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeart Digital Audio Group for iHeartMedia. 'We look forward to bringing the passion and excitement of BIG3 to our listeners on a local and national level week after week." 'iHeart recognizes that the BIG3 audience is expansive and valuable; everyone who experiences a live game – in person, on TV, and now via audio – becomes a fan for life. Beyond their broadcast radio network, we are particularly excited about the dedicated podcast and streaming exposure iHeart can provide us, and know this partnership will be instrumental in cultivating the future fandom of the league,' said BIG3 President Jeff Kwatinetz. 'BIG3 represents the kind of innovation, energy, and cultural relevance that we believe will resonate with iHeart audiences coast to coast,' said Mike Biondo, President of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at iHeartMedia. 'We're thrilled to bring the excitement of 3-on-3 basketball to millions of fans through our audio platforms – not only live play-by-play, but also in the form of storytelling, analysis, and community engagement that only iHeart can deliver.' This announcement follows the 2025 BIG3 Draft in Las Vegas, where the eight all-new city-based BIG3 franchises finalized their five-man rosters. The players drafted earlier this month round out the most physical and competitive BIG3 talent class ever, including First Ballot Hall-of-Famer Dwight Howard, 4X NBA All-Star Kemba Walker, Born Ready Lance Stephenson, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, and 2010 fourth overall pick Wes Johnson. The full 2025 BIG3 schedule is available at and @thebig3 on X and Instagram. ABOUT BIG3: On January 11, 2017, the BIG3 was born. The first-ever professional FIREBALL3 league is the brainchild of producer, actor, and music legend Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, who shared a vision of a player-centric league focused on entertainment and innovation. The BIG3 is a league with no garbage minutes, where trash talk is allowed, defense is emphasized, fast-paced action, and where every point – whether it's a 4-point or 3-point shot – counts. Any given BIG3 team has hall of famers, icons and trailblazers, and the next best 3-on-3 player. The league has led the sports industry in diversity and opportunity, becoming the first professional sports league to implement a mental health policy, favor CBD as a pain management alternative to opioids, enlist female coaches of men, and appoint a black Commissioner in Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who is also professional sports first former player serving as Commissioner. The inaugural CEO was the legendary, incomparable Raider executive Amy Trask. This January 2024, BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube was honored at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, where he received the inaugural Ice Cube Impact Award, acknowledging individuals making substantial contributions to their community, the first non-player to be recognized. Founders Ice Cube and Jeffrey Kwatinetz are missioned to better society as BIG3 pursues business success while also helping to break down stereotypes, promote diversity in sports, create opportunities for black, brown, and female athletes beyond the court, and support the black, youth and basketball communities overall. About iHeartMedia iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with 90% of Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the size of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit for more company information.
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Julius ‘Dr. J' Erving will coach Chicago Triplets, the BIG3's 3-on-3 team where trash-talking is encouraged
The Doctor is in. NBA Hall of Famer Julius 'Dr. J' Erving will be the head coach of the Chicago Triplets in the BIG3, the 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by rapper/actor Ice Cube. Erving previously coached Tri-State and earned Coach of the Year honors in 2021. In 2018, the league's championship trophy was named after Erving. The Triplets are one of eight teams in the league, which is entering its eighth season. Games tip off on June 14 at Allstate Arena. 'I was doing it as a favor for a good friend, Clyde Drexler, and a guy who I had admiration for, Ice Cube, when they started the league,' Erving, 75, told the Tribune about joining BIG3. 'I had a window of time during the summer where we were taking vacations during that time, and the BIG3 suddenly became 10 vacations.' The Chicago Triplets roster includes former NBA players Jason Richardson, Montrezl Harrell and Kemba Walker. Richardson, a Michigan State alum and the No. 5 pick in the 2001 draft, was a two-time Slam Dunk champion. while Harrell a Sixth Man of the Year after being a second-round pick in 2015. Walker, the No. 9 pick in 2011, was a four-time All-Star during his time in the NBA. They added Amir Johnson and Chris Allen in the league's draft on Thursday. 'I think we're going to be potential winners of most of our games,' Erving said. 'We have guys who have high basketball IQs and who have had great careers nationally, as well as in the NBA. I think once we get organized and get some defensive schemes in there, we will be fine.' One of the BIG3's selling points is its encouragement of trash-talking. Erving — who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 — said he had his own way of dealing with opponents during his lengthy career. 'I just tuned guys out if they talked trash, I was not a trash talker,' Erving said. I always felt (to) let your game do the talking, and that would be enough trash if your game was really speaking for you, and that's the way I learned to play. I don't remember anyone really trash-talking me, and I dare someone to find any footage of someone really trash-talking me.' The league began in 2017 with 8 teams before expanding to 12 teams that traveled to various locations for games. Those teams were never based in any city or region — but that's all changed this season with the Chicago Triplets, Boston Ball Hogs, Dallas Power, Detroit Amplifiers, DMV Trilogy, Houston Rig Hands, Miami 305, and the LA Riot. And Ice Cube has an even larger vision for the 3-on-3 league. 'Our dream is to have a BIG3 Australian league,' Ice Cube told Basketball Network. 'And, you know, to repeat that in a lot of territories throughout the world and then create what's essentially like a World Cup–type situation with three-on-three basketball. So, that's the long game.' Erving echoed Ice Cube's vision. He believes the league — and 3-on-3 basketball in general — is beneficial to the state of basketball. 'I think (BIG3) is well respected, because ever before the BIG3 started, 3-on-3 basketball was played in different parts of the world,' Erving said. 'There was room for (BIG3) to enter when it did, it's been sustained and it's only going to get better.'
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Rashad McCants On Why His Show With Ex-NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Is So Popular: ‘The Barbershop Feel'
Rashad McCants is making a name for himself on the entertainment side as a member of "Gil's Arena," ... More currently the No. 1 daily digital basketball show. (Photo byfor BIG3) Rashad McCants is best known for being one of the lead players of the 2005 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team that won the National Championship, but he's making a name for himself on the entertainment side of things two decades later. The 40-year-old spent four years in the NBA after he was selected with a first-round draft pick in 2005 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The smooth scoring shooting guard made a name for himself while playing under legendary college basketball head coach Roy Williams, garnering an All-American selection after leading the ACC in scoring (20.0 points per game) during his sophomore season in 2003-04. However, if you mention McCants' name now, it's associated with "Gil's Arena" -- the most popular current daily basketball digital show. Simply put, "Gil's Arena" is named after former three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. Arenas leads a panel of former NBA stars, including the likes of McCants, Kenyon Martin, Brandon Jennings and Nick Young while they debate the hottest topics in the basketball world. What makes it stand out in a space that is littered with athlete-hosted shows and podcasts is its authenticity and how it's unfiltered. In other words, it gives off the barbershop feel and the debate bounces back and forth between guys who aren't afraid to go at one another -- just as if they were still on the hardwood court. "That's the barbershop feel that we want to give back to the community," says McCants in a one-on-one interview. "When people watch, they feel like they're there. You can hear people in the comments talk during the show as if they're there live. They're talking to the TV, 'Oh, that's a BS take.' That's the energy we want." McCants -- who says they all get competitive while they're debating -- says that authenticity during the show is what makes it great entertainment for fans. "That element alone gives a great fanfare, it gives great fan engagement," says McCants. "We get to play characters good enough for people who think that it's real, like people think that we might have some type of energy against each other. As basketball players, we all have a job, and that's to win. We're all doing our part, playing our roles, and we're being successful at it." Gil's Arena isn't just a podcast, it's a studio show that is broadcast live on YouTube. The show began in 2023 after Arenas convinced McCants to partner up with him for a podcast after the duo would repeatedly run into each other at the 24-Hour Fitness. McCants details how it was Arenas' vision that led to the show being put together, saying how the former Washington Wizards star wanted to mimic popular NBA shows such as "Inside the NBA" and "First Take." "He's been watching the whole First Take panel, Inside the NBA, and he wanted to mimic something like that, to give us all the freedom to speak the game," says McCants of Arenas. "We took that and we've been able to elevate it to a point where now all of the athletes want podcasts. All athletes want a voice and to be able to talk about the sport. That's the best thing that we could do to give back, is to give a voice to the athletes." It also doesn't hurt that all five of the main characters on the show played during the same time period in the NBA during the 2000's. Martin is the oldest at 47 years old with Jennings the youngest at 35 years old. However, each former basketball player on the show had their careers intertwine with one another. McCants self-admittedly loves playing the role of "villain" and "controversial contrarian" on the show, saying that he gives a unique perspective from the side of people who don't have the platform to speak. "In the realm of competition, you want to be able to take it as heated as possible," says McCants of the show's format. "You want to be able to take it to the edge. You want to be able to cross that line just to get the win. You have to be able to hold your ground, hold your arguments. You have to be able to stick to your guns and hopefully somebody gives up before you do." The show has over 1 million followers. For perspective, the most popular basketball player-hosted podcast "All The Smoke" with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson -- and the O.G. in that category, having started in October of 2019 -- has just over 1.1 million followers on YouTube. Long story short, "Gil's Arena" is right there with them. According to McCants, the long-term objective of the show is to continue to grow the viewership, create longevity and eventually be considered on the same tier as "First Take" and "Inside The NBA." "The long-term objective is to reach as many people as possible and to forge a relationship with those people, to trust our takes, our opinions, our perspectives," says McCants. "The long-form plan is to create longevity in this space where we can have seats next to NBA on TNT, Sports Center, First Take and we can be beside these guys and not have to be corporate. 'Independence is the number one beacon in this country,' McCants continues to say. "If we can take our talents off YouTube and away from linear viewership and create our own lane, I think we'll see better results."
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
5-Star USC Commit Alijah Arenas In Coma After Serious Car Accident
DALLAS, TEXAS - JULY 31: Coach Gilbert Arenas of the Enemies looks on during the game against the Triplets during BIG3 - Week Four at the American Airlines Center on July 31, 2021 in Dallas,... DALLAS, TEXAS - JULY 31: Coach Gilbert Arenas of the Enemies looks on during the game against the Triplets during BIG3 - Week Four at the American Airlines Center on July 31, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. ( More Photo byfor BIG3
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
7x NBA All-Star Joe Johnson to join BIG3's Detroit Amplifiers
BIG3 basketball is arriving to Little Caesars Arena this summer, and it's bringing a former NBA All Star with it. The newly established Detroit Amplifiers announced Wednesday their pre-draft roster ahead of the upcoming BIG3 season, and it features seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson as the centerpiece. Advertisement Johnson played for seven NBA teams across 18 seasons from 2001-22 and is no stranger to BIG3 basketball, winning the league's MVP while leading the Triplets to a title in 2019. The Detroit Pistons briefly signed Johnson after the 2019 BIG3 season but waived him soon after without Johnson having appeared in a game. Johnson played in one NBA game with the Boston Celtics − the team that originally drafted him − in 2021 before retiring from the NBA. The Amplifiers' roster also features EuroLeague veteran Jeremy Pargo and former NBA forward Darnell Jackson. They will be coached by NBA Hall-of-Famer and Detroit native George Gervin. The Amplifiers also released their color scheme, wordmark and logo, highlighting the city's musical history with a logo inspired by the dial on an amplifier. Primary logo for the BIG3's Detroit Amplifiers The BIG3 season tips off on June 14 with games broadcasted on CBS. The Amplifiers will host their first Detroit event at Little Caesars Arena on July 25, with game times to be determined. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former NBA star Joe Johnson to join Detroit's BIG3 franchise
