What you need to know for BIG3 draft
Birdman, Oden potential interesting newcomers
Ice Cube and other leaders of the BIG3 basketball league kicked off the week with a full-page ad in The New York Times directed at President Trump.
Now, it’s time to get back to basketball. The secondyear league’s draft for its eight teams is Thursday (8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). Trilogy, the undefeated champion, will not draft, as league rules dictate it must defend its crown with the 2017 roster. The Ball Hogs will select first.
If you missed the inaugural season of the 3-on-3 league or need to brush up on available talent, here’s a handy guide.
Drumroll, please: Who will be the first pick? DeShawn Stevenson, who played 13 seasons in the NBA and won a championship ring with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, is projected as the top pick in the BIG3’s mock draft. He led the BIG3 in three-pointers last season, hitting 32 as a member of the Power. Andre Owens, a shooting guard, and Ivan Johnson, a power forward, are projected as the second and third picks, re- spectively, after productive seasons last year.
Tattoo influx: The number of tattoos in the BIG3 could increase exponentially with the addition of a single player, Chris “Birdman” Andersen. The colorful,
6-10 Birdman, who is covered in ink from head to toe and did not play in the BIG3 last season, is expected to be picked in the third (and last) round of the draft, based on the BIG3 mock draft.
Inevitable disappointment: The draft pool consists of 26 returning players and 38 players looking to join the league. Here’s the problem: Only 19 players will be drafted. So good luck to the likes of Qyntel Woods, who has won three Polish League championships but no NBA rings, and Devin Sweetney, whose pro career began ceremoniously as a member of Iprottafelagio Hamar, a team in Iceland.
New faces: In addition to the Birdman, other notable players hoping to join the league via the draft are
7-footer Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick of the 2007 NBA draft whose career was all but derailed by injuries; 7footer Eddy Curry, who won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2012; and 6-9 Samaki Walker, who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002.
Familiar faces: Allen Iverson, one of the BIG3’s biggest draws last season, is not on the list of returning players. Who is: Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington, Chauncey Billups, Rashard Lewis and Mike Bibby.