New 3-on-3 league opens in New York
Stars, physical play, 4-pointers line first day of competition
NEW YORK — Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 league of former NBA players got off to a strong start Sunday, with the first two games both decided on winning shots in front of 15,177 fans.
Allen Iverson’s team won the third game, though as player-coach he only put himself in for 9 minutes. At 42 years old, the former NBA MVP said he doesn’t expect to be playing heavy minutes in the 10-game season.
The overall quality of play was spotty, as players had to shake off sometimes years of rust. But it was certainly competitive.
Games are played to 60 points but teams have to win by two, and getting to 60 wasn’t enough in either of the first two games.
In the opener, Rashard Lewis made a three-point play with his team facing game point as 3 Headed Monsters edged Ghost Ballers, 62-60.
The game has gimmicks — Lewis made the first 4point shot and teams had 14 seconds to shoot. Team names included 3’s Company and Killer 3s and some players wore nicknames on their jerseys, with Jerome Williams going with “Junk Yard Dog” on his.
Cube vowed the games would be competitive — players are vying for a revenue share based on final league standings. There was pushing and shoving in the post and a few hard fouls, and the physicality and trash talk appeared to heat up as the games went on. With hand checking allowed, the games looked nothing like today’s NBA game.
“Some people like that style, some people don’t,” Trilogy’s Kenyon Martin said. “So we’re here to fill that void for the people that appreciate the way the game has been played forever, you know what I’m saying? Basketball is a contact sport.”
The eight-team league will play on 10 weekends, culminating with the Aug. 26 championship in Las Vegas.