DOJ Investigating NBA Anticompetitive Behavior Targeting Ice Cube’s Big3 League

It was reported this week that the DOJ launched an inquiry ‘months ago’ alleging that the NBA has used its weight within sponsors, coaches, players, and referees to discourage them from engaging and/or participating with the basketball league that is owned by Ice Cube and business partner Jeff Kwatinez.  

The NBA season and the Big 3 league do not coincide. NBA players like Jaylen Brown have shown interest in playing in the Big 3 league during the summer. However, in the past, the NBA has enforced certain restrictive regulations to prevent players from participating in the summer league.

While some officials do officiate in other leagues, there are reports that they have faced discouragement from getting involved with the Big 3. The DOJ has started reaching out to NBA team owners to seek clarification on the alleged tampering.

The upcoming Summer of 2024 will be an intriguing time to observe how the NBA responds to these allegations. There appears to be substance to this story, considering the significant number of former NBA players who participate in the Big 3 league, many of whom do not have the best relationship with the NBA. The Big 3 league is a league accepting of everyone, welcoming players that have been removed from the NBA, NBA legends, street ballers, and many others. It has steadily garnered notoriety and popularity, all without significant assistance from the world’s largest basketball league.

As the DOJ investigation finishes, we’ll be sure to report the final results.