After two incredibly successful seasons, the BIG3 announced major expansion plans for the 2019 season. To meet the huge demand from players and fans, the BIG3 will expand to 12 teams for the upcoming season and move to two nights per week. The league will also reduce the age of eligibility to 27, with players still required to have regular season NBA or professional international basketball experience. By expanding, the BIG3 will visit 18 cities over the course of the season, with three games played at each venue. The expansion news also paves the way for an influx of new talent to join the ranks of fan favorites like Amar’e Stoudemire, Nate Robinson, Rashard Lewis, and Kenyon Martin to name a few.
As part of the expansion announcement, the league also unveiled that Naismith Hall of Famer, 2x WNBA Champion, 3x WNBA MVP, and 4x Olympic Gold Medalist Lisa Leslie will join the BIG3 as coach of the new expansion team Triplets. Leslie joins BIG3 Championship Coach Nancy Lieberman as the only female head coaches of professional men’s teams, further showing the league’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Over the past two seasons it’s become very clear that there is a huge appetite for the BIG3, not only with the fans, but with elite players as well” said BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube. “In order to meet that growing interest, the league needs to expand and we are excited to be taking this important next step so early in our existence.”
The remaining coaches, team captains and team names will be announced shortly.
