The 2024 Paris Olympic Games mark the debut of the USA men’s 3×3 basketball team. However, their first appearance did not go as planned, with the team getting eliminated from the tournament. Ice Cube, the founder of the Big3 league, has voiced his doubts about the current players’ potential.
Ice Cube believes that players from his Big3 league should represent the USA in 3×3 basketball instead. He challenged the current gold medal winners to a game against the all-stars from his league.
“We’ll get the players that’s ready to go, ready to represent the United States, and bring some respect, put some respect on the name. At the end of the day, we’re not seeing the best that we have in Paris, and that’s because of pettiness and politics, and it seems like the guys would rather not get the Big3 credit instead of bringing a gold medal home,” Cube said.
Ice Cube also offered to cover all expenses and provide additional money for the winning team, sharing the importance of overcoming what he sees as “pettiness.”
“That’s more important than this pettiness. These guys don’t get paid a lot. So they should jump at the challenge,” he added.
Team USA’s 3×3 Knocked Out of Paris Olympics
The Paris Olympics saw the debut of Team USA’s 3×3 basketball team, which includes just one former NBA player, Jimmer Fredette. The other team members, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis, all went undrafted by NBA teams.
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One requirement for players to be eligible to play for the 3×3 Olympic team is participation in FIBA-sanctioned 3×3 events. This requirement has fueled Ice Cube’s long-standing beef with the NBA due to its refusal to embrace the Big 3 league.
The United States 3×3 team was eliminated from the competition after losing 21-6 to the Netherlands in the quarterfinal. The Netherlands finished the game on a 16-2 run.
Also Read: Basketball Olympics 2024: Who Will Team USA’s Men’s Basketball Team Play In The Quarterfinals?
