3-on-3 league BIG on nostalgia
No one knew what to expect from the BIG3, but fans knew who to expect at the league’s debut. To start, that was enough. A surprisingly strong (announced) crowd of 15,177 fans came to Barclays Center on Sunday to watch the new 3-on-3 basketball league, featuring a slew of retired NBA stars — including Allen Iverson — at the beginning of its 10-city summer tour.
Several problems surfaced in the first showcase of the Ice Cube-created startup — the quality of play, the dragging pace of the near-six hour event, and the durability of the aging players — which threaten the long-term viability of the league, but name recognition and nostalgia created enough excitement for a crowd that didn’t need the action to match their memories.
So much of the intrigue — James Harden, LL Cool J and Whoopi Goldberg, among other celebrities, sat courtside — was attached to Iverson, the former MVP, whose old jerseys were represented all around the arena. The presence of Iverson, last seen in the NBA in 2010, was enough to justify Daniel Shaw and Aaron Macada flying from Nottingham, England, to see their favorite player.
“I never actually saw him play in person, so when we heard he was going to be here, we had to come over,” said Shaw, while waiting for the arena doors to open. “I have no idea how he’s going to look, but it’ll just be nice to see him play at all.”
Iverson received the only standing ovation, and chants — “We want AI” — of the day, with countless cameras capturing the enigmatic superstar’s return, but “The Answer,” whose nickname was sewn to the back of his 3’s Company jersey, instantly killed all curiosity about his current abilities.
His formerly lightning quick feet were stuck in cement, never to escape. He missed his first four shots, including a wide-open layup. The building exploded when the former 76ers superstar hit his lone jumper, but the league’s marquee attraction rarely left the sideline, playing nine of 37 minutes.
“The playing part is not going to be what you expect. I’m 42 years old. I’ve been retired for seven years,” said Iverson, who added he hadn’t played basketball in five years before joining the league. “The only reason that I get out there for the couple minutes that I do get out there is for the fans. You’re not going to see the Allen Iverson of old out there.
“Cube wanted me to be the face of the whole thing, and I was like, ‘Alright, cool’ ... but there was excitement all throughout. It didn’t need Allen Iverson the player, per se.”
Iverson wasn’t the only player who looked older than his advancing age. Cuttino Mobley was completely believable when he said he had “no clue” when he last played competitive basket- ball, making 5-of-20 shots in the half-court contest. Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, and Corey Maggette, hobbled off with leg injuries. Former Net and Knick Kenyon Martin walked off with a hamstring injury.
Remarkably, the crowd remained invested despite the poor shooting and shoddy passing, often reacting to successful plays like a parent who treats their child’s fingerpaintings like Picassos. Rashard Lewis converted a three-point play to win the first game. DeShawn Stevenson hit a 3pointer to end the second game. Both were treated like championship clinchers.
On a hot day, a pool isn’t needed. An open fire hydrant will do.
“I didn’t expect it to be like this,” Iverson said. “It was fun for the fans. That was the whole objective. That’s why I wanted to do this and go around from city to city and be around my fans. I think it was a great atmosphere and I really think it’s only going to get better.”
With Iverson gone, the crowd noticeably thinned for the final game.
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