Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
The interview with Ice Cube from the previous file, focusing on his work with the Big3 basketball league, his entertainment career, and his views on current social issues.
Here’s a summary of the key highlights from this script:
🎤 Interview with Ice Cube on The Stephen Smith Show 🏀 Big3 Basketball League
- Season 8 Launch: The league has officially kicked off its eighth season, now with eight city-based franchises (e.g., Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Miami, L.A.).
- Vision: Cube wants the league to last 100 years, like the NBA or NFL.
- Mental Health Impact: Players have expressed that the league helps them mentally by keeping them in the game and in front of fans.
- Passion & Intensity: Cube addressed a scuffle involving Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson, emphasizing the passion players bring.
- Innovation: The league features unique rules like:
- Four-point shot
- 14-second shot clock
- “Bring the Fire” one-on-one challenge
- Ownership Opportunities: Players can gain equity in the league, and Cube encourages more to get involved in team ownership.
- Women in the League: Cube confirmed they offered Caitlin Clark a spot, and that women could join if selected by team captains.
- Season Duration: The 10-week season ends with a championship game on August 24.
🎶 Cube’s Broader Career & Cultural Impact
- Entertainment Legacy: Celebrated for his 40-year music career and recent handprint ceremony at the Chinese Theatre.
- Upcoming Tour: “Truth to Power” tour launching in the fall.
- Family Pride: Cube praises his son O’Shea Jackson Jr. for his acting talent and dedication.
🗣️ Social Commentary
- Civic Responsibility: He emphasizes the need for more respectful and humane enforcement of laws.
Support the show: http://www.youtube.com/@stephenasmith
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
My next guest is a multi hyphen legendary rapper, actor
and producer of some of our favorite films, an entrepreneur,
founding member of the iconic Rap collective NWA, and.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Of course, co founder of the Big Three Basketball League.
We know them, we love them. It's my brother, the
one and only Ice CBS in the house. What's going on,
big time? How are you man? How's everything all?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Good? Man? Good to be here?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Thank you man, Please my pleasure now? Am I reading
this correctly? Season eight of the Big Three tips off.
The tipped off this weekend.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Bro Season eight, he's an eight.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
You know, it's been it's been a nice long ride,
but it's been a great ride. And you know, season
eight that means, you know, the people really love the
style of play and they rewarding us with, you know,
little longevity here.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
So we're gonna keep it going.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Express to everybody what your vision was when you first
started this league and whether or not you believe that
vision has become reality.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
You know, I go back to what I said in
twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen, if this league I wanted to
last one hundred years, you know, like like the NFL
or the NBA, you know, was just going on a
hunting so, yeah, I wanted to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Why not. You know, we got this style of play.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Three on three has always been part of basketball. It's
never really got it shine, and now it's starting to
shine and people saying it's a great style of play.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
You know, mono a mono.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
You know, you gotta be able to pass, dribble, shoot,
and defend to have success.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
And it's a great game.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
You know what you think about what the Big Three?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I mean, listen, I got to tell you, I'm proud
of I'm proud of what you've done to the league
with the league. I'm proud of the opportunities you've given cats.
You know that obviously some of that retired from the
NBA and stuff like that, but they still got skills.
They just ain't trying to run up and down a
quarter full ninety four feet for eighty two nights a year,
that kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
But when I think about.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
This league and what you've done for so many people,
what are the kind of things these players are telling
you the Big Three has done for them.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
You know, one thing we never counted on was how
much this league would help mental health of our heroes
on the court, getting them back in the arena where
they belong. These guys have honed their skills, you know,
as long as you have, you know, doing your art,
and just think, you know, somebody can walk up one
day and tell you it's over just because of what
(02:37):
you know. They don't have room for you.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
It's like, yo, these guys still want to play at
the highest level. They go overseas, but they want to
be at home. They want to play in those arenas
that they used to play, and they want to play
in front of you know, American crowds, their friends, their family,
they bring their kids to the game.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
So never thought, you.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Know, we helping players' mental health as much as we
are when it comes to, you know, what they can
achieve on the basketball court.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I'm seeing former NBA players that's a part of the
league right now. And I'm told former NBA champions Dwight
Howard and Lance Stevenson were ejected from Saturday season open
up between Miami and Los Angeles. That's spiled into the
media box. What the hell is that about? I mean,
they think you got cats getting fighting and doing all
of that right now, what's that about how you feel
about that ice que.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Hey man, you know it's part of the game. Like
you know, they ready to play. You know, they they're passionate.
They not just out there because you know they're getting
you know, crazy money. They out there because they love
the game. And this is what the fans want to see.
As far as the passion. Now, we don't condone the fighting.
You know, we let you trash talk a little. We
(03:50):
don't want players touching each other, you know what I mean.
We want players that you know, kind of watch their language,
you know a little bit on TV.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But we want to and you know it happened.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
It's built over in our first game between two rookies.
This is their first game in the Big Three, and
welcome to the Big Three.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
The Big Three, which is on CBS by the way,
for everybody that's watching them debut with eight all new franchises.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Tell me about them.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I'm looking at Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Miami.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I mean, LA, talk to me about that eight new teams.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah, well, you know, we decided to plan ourselves in
cities before we were kind of a you know, barnstorming
league not connected to any cities. We wanted to create
Big Three fans and fans of the style of the game.
And now that we have that, it's time to plant
our flags in cities. We opening up a real big
(04:52):
fandom when it comes to that.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
So it's unlocking.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
A lot of eyes onto the Big Three, a lot
of interest. You know, when when you got your city
pride to add to to you know, your you know,
expectations of the game, it uh, it just takes us
to another level. So we got eight, Now we want
to go to twelve. We want to go to you know,
sixteen twenty. You know, we don't have a team in
(05:19):
New York yet, so you know, Steven that you might
want to put it, put some you know, put put
a team together, you know, grab that New York squad.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So you never know, I have to.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I might have to. How might have to?
Speaker 1 (05:32):
You can't have you can't have a basketball league and
no team in New York. We definitely got to talk
about that, make no mistink about it.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
But but I want to know this Qube.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
You know when you came in, when you started this,
since its inception, what's been the biggest challenge for you
that you've encountered and try to help this league grow.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
You know, it's been challenging in different ways. You know,
we we really thought we were going to get more
love from the sports media. Having the names that we
have involved with this league. You've always you know, been
able to you know, shine light on the league with
your platform, which I appreciated from day one. You know,
(06:13):
but you know a lot of sports media looks over
the league and it's a shame because in the dog
days of summer, you know, for who fans you know,
this is to me, you.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Know, a league that is bite sized.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
You know, we got ten weeks and we crowned champion
and then you know, we can get to the NFL.
So it's pretty pretty cool for the summer. So I
just wish the sports media get with the program.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I totally agree with you that I certainly could do
more and I am gonna do more.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
But I'll tell you else. I think the players could
do more as well. I'm not talking about.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Playing because I know they bring what they bring, but
I'm talking about talking about the Big Three when you're
looking forward to I just saw Dwight Howard the other day.
He about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He didn't mention the Big Three. It would have been
nice and he mentioned that you see what I'm saying
stuff like that, just letting cats know, Yo, this ain't
the only kind of basketball is going on.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
We got some.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Skills that we still want to showcase as well. So
I think a lot of the players can do the same.
It's a collective effort.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
To media.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
You do, you're the.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
One person that you're the one reliable commodity with the
Big Three from the standpoint, you always, always, always are
promoting this league. And I think the players, they got
a lot to say with their podcasts and all of
that stuff, they could do a lot more as well.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Would you say that.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
We would love that.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
You know, some players do, you know, use their platform
to hype up the Big Three, But we would love
for the players to do more that. You know, why
the players love the league is that we don't put
you know, too many you know, like ain't doing them
like that. You know they want If they want to
do it, it's got to be out the love of
their heart. We're not going to require them to do that.
(07:52):
We're not going to require them to talk to the media,
you know, they got to do it out the love
of the game, and they didn't have wanting to have
something to say to the world.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
So you know, I don't think we're gonna change that.
You know.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Of course we would love for them to talk about
it twenty four seven, but at the end of the
day's growing men, it's up.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
To them on what they want to talk about.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
One of the things that you've done with this league
has become more than just sport to touch his culture,
music community, all of that.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Was that always your intention.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Always, you know, I thought, you know, music culture and
sports is like you know, peanut butter and jelly with
the milk, you know what I mean, it all go together.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
It's perfect.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
So that's always been you know, our philosophy. We had
Jim Jones come out rock the house today. I mean,
you know, on Saturday doing Game one, we're gonna have
spot Face out and.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Uh out there in Baltimore.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
So you know, we plan on bringing the best entertaining
the people with basketball music culture. You know, we got
break dances out there from Monster Energy, we got DJ dancers, dunkers,
everything you can name.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
At the Big Three. So it's you know, it's a carnival.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
You know, it's a lot of fun at the events.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You've also talked about ownership involving you know, ownership opportunities
for these players, and I know equity is has always
been important with the Big Three and how different is
that you know from other leagues in your estimation in
terms of ownership opportunities for these players.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Explain that to the audience.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Well, you know, a lot of our day one players
who helped start the league have an ownership in the league,
which is amazing. And you know, once the league is
you know, profitable, we'll be able to start cashing them
out and that'd be a great thing. You know, at
the end of the day, it's really about you know,
people putting groups together. Teams are very reasonable right now,
(09:52):
you know, at the end of the day compared to
other pro teams, you know, and so that's gonna change
very rare for the LEA as teams will start to
get purchased, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
We got four owners now looking for four more.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
And then we're gonna expand the league, so it's going
to continue to go up. So we want some of
the players you know who want ownership in the league,
like this to come forward. Like I said, put groups
together on some of these franchises and think about, you know,
their generational wealth.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
We think we got it here with the Big Three.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Big Three's embraced innovation like the special all red fireball
five ball three rules, a four point shot, a fourteen
second shot clock, and to bring the five challenge where
teams can contest a foul call with an in game
one on one. How does that enhanced the game and estimation?
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Well, you know, if you look at three on three,
if you saw the Olympics, it feels you know, amateur
if you really put it frankly. But at the end
of the day, the Big Three we professional league. We
wanted to have our wrinkles that helped our game. We
wanted to have things that you couldn't see nowhere else
(11:07):
in a pro basketball game, like our four point shot,
like our bring the fire rule, one shot free throws.
You know, seeing a guy shoot a free throw from
the three point line and or the four point circles
pretty unique. These little wrinkles have made our game fun
to play and fun to watch. And uh and that's
(11:29):
always competitive. You know, these rules are not just because
we are thinking of you know gimmicks. These rules are
built to help you win the game. And we saw
some great comebacks this weekend team down at least eleven
and the other team had forty nine, and then they
(11:49):
come back and win the game. So it's is designed
perfectly for this game.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
One of the last questions I got for you on
the Big Three man Big Three head coach of basketball
legend Nancy Lever as the first woman to become a
head coach of a men's professional team. As powers head coach,
she led the team to the title in twenty eighteen.
Have you considered expanding the league to include more women athletes?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Sure? You know, we we u offered Caitlin.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Clark, you know, a shot at our league last year
and it didn't work out.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
You know, we thought she could probably.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Have a Billy Jeane King moment, and we thought she
could maybe have success in our league because you know,
small guards have had some success in the league, like
you know, like more ab du Roof and Nate Robinson,
you know, not comparing them, but at the end of
the day, we thought, you know, more than a bigger player,
(12:49):
you know, she could maybe get loose.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So it didn't happen.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
You know, the player captain's pick who they want to
be in the league.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
We've got owners. Now, you never know what's gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
So if a player captain pick a woman to be
on her his team, then she's in the league.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Over the week.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
It was this past weekend. How long does this league last?
This particular summer? When's the end day? When's the championship game?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Championship? August twenty fourth, ten week season.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
We got one buy you know, so you know, count
us down, check us out every weekend. You know, we
got games either Saturday or Sunday CBS and Vice TV.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And hey, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Come if we're in your town, come check it out
because you got to see seven foot is play three
on three is incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Well, I'm coming, I'm coming. I'm gonna sit with you.
You're gonna have a seat for me right next to you.
That's what I'm talking about. I mean, damn, it's a
courtsut seats are hard to come by every damn place.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
But it better not be with Q.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
If I'm in the house, I better have a seat
waiting for me right next to you.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Bro.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I mean last, I'll sit with you at l a
couple of years ago.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah, no problem, man. You always got to see if
my wife don't come you you right there. If she did,
you got to see.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Now I'm go, I can't come before the wife. I
can't come before the white man. What you been doing
with yourself?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Man?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
How much of your time is being taken up by this?
Because I mean, you're an actor, you obviously a musician.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
You know you be doing your thing. And I gotta
admit to you, I haven't even seen you to say
this to you. It hurt my dam feelings when you
set up there and saying to.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
The Yankees when you know, when you told them about it,
that hurt my feelings. Killed now hurt my feelings because
you know, I'm a Yankee fan and I knew they
were in trouble, and then they came with with with with.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
With Fat Joe.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
I'm like, yo, I love him for the Knicks, but
the Yankees nine stepped out of pocket there.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
I was like, nah, I ain't cute and it ain't
gonna work.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
I was depressed by you know, at the end of
the day, you know, I had fun.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
I'm a big Dodger fan, you know, so I had
to do it, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
You know the Yankees do hurt our hearts so many times.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Gang, you know, I got to try to get ahead
some way, somehow, So it was great to be a
part of that. And uh, you know, it's just just
a you know, I'm a busy man, but I love it.
You know, spend eighteen hours a day on the Big Three.
You know, when I commit to something, I committed one
hundred and tempercent. So that's what it's all about right
(15:19):
now for me. It's all Big Three.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You know. Then we'll jump back on the music.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
I got a tour coming, the Truth to Power Tour
in the fall, So you can't get rid of me, Stephen.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I'm just I'm trying to figure that say it out.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I'm like that brother music car Risk being forty years
and he was about to come out with a new album.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And by the way, you don't look you don't look forty.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I'm looking at you like, damn, it's forty years
of the music industry.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I mean, that's a lot of time. But you don't
look it, bro, you don't look it.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Hey man, people don't realize. You know, I started as
a real young man. You know, I was fourteen, fifteen
years old when I started, you know, wrote my first
hit song at sixteen, you know, a song called Boys
in the Hood for easy Eating rest in Peace. So
been here, you know, doing it, and it's time to
(16:11):
celebrate that, you know, four decades of attitude. You know
you got to catch me when I come to town.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Well, listen, man, let me not forget this from my orders.
You were recently honored with your handprint ceremony of the
Chinese did the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrating your icotic career.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Fans, family friends on hand. What did that day mean
to you?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Man?
Speaker 4 (16:34):
That's a movie star status, you know what I mean.
At the end of the day, a lot of people
got stars, not a lot got their hands and feeding
some men in front of the Man's Chinese theater. So
great honor, something you don't expect. When you get the call.
You just feel, you know, gratitudes of attitude for real,
(16:56):
you know, you just feel blessed to be in this
position and to have a career that people are recognizing.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Uh, decades later.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Man, is it true that you gotta you know, I'm
hearing these reports that the last Friday films and developments
is that true? Fans that finally, uh, you know we've
been okay then.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Fighting the play wait a long time.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
You know they's not just new leadership at New Line
and Warner Brothers with Mike de Luca. You know, now
it's time to start putting the pieces together.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I can never talk to you without giving your son
some love.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I saw then the Thieves two a few months ago,
the Brothers doing this thing. Oh, Shay Jackson. I mean, proud, Papa.
I'm imagining that brother's got talent. My man, He's got
a real, real bright future in Hollywood. As far as
I'm concerned, he can act. I love what I see
from your son. How are you feeling about what he's
doing with himself these days?
Speaker 4 (18:00):
And he's a better actor than me, you know what
I mean, like amazing range, you know, fully dedicated, and
you know, proud that he's running with him. You know
he's not walking with him. And so you know, all
we can do is parents, I know, happy Father's Day
to order. Father's out there that's really involved in their
(18:20):
kids life, no doubt, and so look to you to
really to really you know, being your kids life and
watch them do something, put them in a place to win,
position to win. You want them to do what it takes.
You know, you know I can only put you in
a position to win, can't play for you.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
So you know he out there doing what he needs
to do to win the game. So you know, I'm
proud of it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Ie, Before I let you get on out of here, man,
forgive me for fear left and.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Ask you this question. You're you're an LA native.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
You see what's going on in the streets of Los
Angeles right now with all these protests because of the
Trump administration and ice and what they're doing with migrants.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
And stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And you see a lot of people protesting across the country,
but obviously a lot of it is emanating with the
no Kings protests emanating out of Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
What has been your.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Thoughts about it, because you you you've never been shy
about expressing what you believe is right and what have
you And obviously you know you're politically conscientious as well.
Your thoughts about what you've been seeing.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
It's heartbreaking, you know, see.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
The city go up like this, you know, just to
see the city kind of I mean, the government handle
it in the way they're handling it. You know, they're
they're using a lot of humiliation, you know, and they're
being you know, being very you know, heavy handed. You know,
I understand the laws of the law and all that,
(19:45):
but why you gotta be so heavy handed with what
you're doing so disrespectfully.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Purchase weddings?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
You know, you hit these places, man, and you know
it's just I think it could be turning.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
In a more respectful way. Man, It's just it's not right.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I got you.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I appreciate you, my man. I always appreciate your voice,
appreciate what you're doing. You know, I'm always here for you,
my man. You take care of yourself and I look
forward to talking to you and seeing you soon.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
All right, you be good.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Take it easy, Take it easy, man, always, any time.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Always, no doubt. One and only ice Cube right here
on the Stephen Nate Smith Show. My thanks to the
one and only Q himself. You can catch The Big
Three on CBS and Vice TV. Also The Truth The
Power Tool coming to a city near you, very very soon.
My next guest is a multi hyphen legendary rapper, actor
and producer of some of our favorite films, an entrepreneur,
founding member of the iconic Rap collective NWA, and.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Of course, co founder of the Big Three Basketball League.
We know them, we love them. It's my brother, the
one and only Ice CBS in the house. What's going on,
big time? How are you man? How's everything all?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Good? Man? Good to be here?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Thank you man, Please my pleasure now? Am I reading
this correctly? Season eight of the Big Three tips off.
The tipped off this weekend.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Bro Season eight, he's an eight.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
You know, it's been it's been a nice long ride,
but it's been a great ride. And you know, season
eight that means, you know, the people really love the
style of play and they rewarding us with, you know,
little longevity here.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
So we're gonna keep it going.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Express to everybody what your vision was when you first
started this league and whether or not you believe that
vision has become reality.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
You know, I go back to what I said in
twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen, if this league I wanted to
last one hundred years, you know, like like the NFL
or the NBA, you know, was just going on a
hunting so, yeah, I wanted to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Why not. You know, we got this style of play.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Three on three has always been part of basketball. It's
never really got it shine, and now it's starting to
shine and people saying it's a great style of play.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
You know, mono a mono.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
You know, you gotta be able to pass, dribble, shoot,
and defend to have success.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
And it's a great game.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
You know what you think about what the Big Three?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I mean, listen, I got to tell you, I'm proud
of I'm proud of what you've done to the league
with the league. I'm proud of the opportunities you've given cats.
You know that obviously some of that retired from the
NBA and stuff like that, but they still got skills.
They just ain't trying to run up and down a
quarter full ninety four feet for eighty two nights a year,
that kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
But when I think about.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
This league and what you've done for so many people,
what are the kind of things these players are telling
you the Big Three has done for them.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
You know, one thing we never counted on was how
much this league would help mental health of our heroes
on the court, getting them back in the arena where
they belong. These guys have honed their skills, you know,
as long as you have, you know, doing your art,
and just think, you know, somebody can walk up one
day and tell you it's over just because of what
(02:37):
you know. They don't have room for you.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
It's like, yo, these guys still want to play at
the highest level. They go overseas, but they want to
be at home. They want to play in those arenas
that they used to play, and they want to play
in front of you know, American crowds, their friends, their family,
they bring their kids to the game.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
So never thought, you.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Know, we helping players' mental health as much as we
are when it comes to, you know, what they can
achieve on the basketball court.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I'm seeing former NBA players that's a part of the
league right now. And I'm told former NBA champions Dwight
Howard and Lance Stevenson were ejected from Saturday season open
up between Miami and Los Angeles. That's spiled into the
media box. What the hell is that about? I mean,
they think you got cats getting fighting and doing all
of that right now, what's that about how you feel
about that ice que.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Hey man, you know it's part of the game. Like
you know, they ready to play. You know, they they're passionate.
They not just out there because you know they're getting
you know, crazy money. They out there because they love
the game. And this is what the fans want to see.
As far as the passion. Now, we don't condone the fighting.
You know, we let you trash talk a little. We
(03:50):
don't want players touching each other, you know what I mean.
We want players that you know, kind of watch their language,
you know a little bit on TV.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But we want to and you know it happened.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
It's built over in our first game between two rookies.
This is their first game in the Big Three, and
welcome to the Big Three.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
The Big Three, which is on CBS by the way,
for everybody that's watching them debut with eight all new franchises.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Tell me about them.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I'm looking at Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Miami.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I mean, LA, talk to me about that eight new teams.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah, well, you know, we decided to plan ourselves in
cities before we were kind of a you know, barnstorming
league not connected to any cities. We wanted to create
Big Three fans and fans of the style of the game.
And now that we have that, it's time to plant
our flags in cities. We opening up a real big
(04:52):
fandom when it comes to that.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
So it's unlocking.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
A lot of eyes onto the Big Three, a lot
of interest. You know, when when you got your city
pride to add to to you know, your you know,
expectations of the game, it uh, it just takes us
to another level. So we got eight, Now we want
to go to twelve. We want to go to you know,
sixteen twenty. You know, we don't have a team in
(05:19):
New York yet, so you know, Steven that you might
want to put it, put some you know, put put
a team together, you know, grab that New York squad.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So you never know, I have to.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I might have to. How might have to?
Speaker 1 (05:32):
You can't have you can't have a basketball league and
no team in New York. We definitely got to talk
about that, make no mistink about it.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
But but I want to know this Qube.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
You know when you came in, when you started this,
since its inception, what's been the biggest challenge for you
that you've encountered and try to help this league grow.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
You know, it's been challenging in different ways. You know,
we we really thought we were going to get more
love from the sports media. Having the names that we
have involved with this league. You've always you know, been
able to you know, shine light on the league with
your platform, which I appreciated from day one. You know,
(06:13):
but you know a lot of sports media looks over
the league and it's a shame because in the dog
days of summer, you know, for who fans you know,
this is to me, you.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Know, a league that is bite sized.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
You know, we got ten weeks and we crowned champion
and then you know, we can get to the NFL.
So it's pretty pretty cool for the summer. So I
just wish the sports media get with the program.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I totally agree with you that I certainly could do
more and I am gonna do more.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
But I'll tell you else. I think the players could
do more as well. I'm not talking about.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Playing because I know they bring what they bring, but
I'm talking about talking about the Big Three when you're
looking forward to I just saw Dwight Howard the other day.
He about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He didn't mention the Big Three. It would have been
nice and he mentioned that you see what I'm saying
stuff like that, just letting cats know, Yo, this ain't
the only kind of basketball is going on.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
We got some.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Skills that we still want to showcase as well. So
I think a lot of the players can do the same.
It's a collective effort.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
To media.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
You do, you're the.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
One person that you're the one reliable commodity with the
Big Three from the standpoint, you always, always, always are
promoting this league. And I think the players, they got
a lot to say with their podcasts and all of
that stuff, they could do a lot more as well.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Would you say that.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
We would love that.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
You know, some players do, you know, use their platform
to hype up the Big Three, But we would love
for the players to do more that. You know, why
the players love the league is that we don't put
you know, too many you know, like ain't doing them
like that. You know they want If they want to
do it, it's got to be out the love of
their heart. We're not going to require them to do that.
(07:52):
We're not going to require them to talk to the media,
you know, they got to do it out the love
of the game, and they didn't have wanting to have
something to say to the world.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
So you know, I don't think we're gonna change that.
You know.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Of course we would love for them to talk about
it twenty four seven, but at the end of the
day's growing men, it's up.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
To them on what they want to talk about.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
One of the things that you've done with this league
has become more than just sport to touch his culture,
music community, all of that.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Was that always your intention.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Always, you know, I thought, you know, music culture and
sports is like you know, peanut butter and jelly with
the milk, you know what I mean, it all go together.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
It's perfect.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
So that's always been you know, our philosophy. We had
Jim Jones come out rock the house today. I mean,
you know, on Saturday doing Game one, we're gonna have
spot Face out and.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Uh out there in Baltimore.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
So you know, we plan on bringing the best entertaining
the people with basketball music culture. You know, we got
break dances out there from Monster Energy, we got DJ dancers, dunkers,
everything you can name.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
At the Big Three. So it's you know, it's a carnival.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
You know, it's a lot of fun at the events.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You've also talked about ownership involving you know, ownership opportunities
for these players, and I know equity is has always
been important with the Big Three and how different is
that you know from other leagues in your estimation in
terms of ownership opportunities for these players.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Explain that to the audience.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Well, you know, a lot of our day one players
who helped start the league have an ownership in the league,
which is amazing. And you know, once the league is
you know, profitable, we'll be able to start cashing them
out and that'd be a great thing. You know, at
the end of the day, it's really about you know,
people putting groups together. Teams are very reasonable right now,
(09:52):
you know, at the end of the day compared to
other pro teams, you know, and so that's gonna change
very rare for the LEA as teams will start to
get purchased, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
We got four owners now looking for four more.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
And then we're gonna expand the league, so it's going
to continue to go up. So we want some of
the players you know who want ownership in the league,
like this to come forward. Like I said, put groups
together on some of these franchises and think about, you know,
their generational wealth.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
We think we got it here with the Big Three.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Big Three's embraced innovation like the special all red fireball
five ball three rules, a four point shot, a fourteen
second shot clock, and to bring the five challenge where
teams can contest a foul call with an in game
one on one. How does that enhanced the game and estimation?
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Well, you know, if you look at three on three,
if you saw the Olympics, it feels you know, amateur
if you really put it frankly. But at the end
of the day, the Big Three we professional league. We
wanted to have our wrinkles that helped our game. We
wanted to have things that you couldn't see nowhere else
(11:07):
in a pro basketball game, like our four point shot,
like our bring the fire rule, one shot free throws.
You know, seeing a guy shoot a free throw from
the three point line and or the four point circles
pretty unique. These little wrinkles have made our game fun
to play and fun to watch. And uh and that's
(11:29):
always competitive. You know, these rules are not just because
we are thinking of you know gimmicks. These rules are
built to help you win the game. And we saw
some great comebacks this weekend team down at least eleven
and the other team had forty nine, and then they
(11:49):
come back and win the game. So it's is designed
perfectly for this game.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
One of the last questions I got for you on
the Big Three man Big Three head coach of basketball
legend Nancy Lever as the first woman to become a
head coach of a men's professional team. As powers head coach,
she led the team to the title in twenty eighteen.
Have you considered expanding the league to include more women athletes?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Sure? You know, we we u offered Caitlin.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Clark, you know, a shot at our league last year
and it didn't work out.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
You know, we thought she could probably.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Have a Billy Jeane King moment, and we thought she
could maybe have success in our league because you know,
small guards have had some success in the league, like
you know, like more ab du Roof and Nate Robinson,
you know, not comparing them, but at the end of
the day, we thought, you know, more than a bigger player,
(12:49):
you know, she could maybe get loose.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So it didn't happen.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
You know, the player captain's pick who they want to
be in the league.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
We've got owners. Now, you never know what's gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
So if a player captain pick a woman to be
on her his team, then she's in the league.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Over the week.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
It was this past weekend. How long does this league last?
This particular summer? When's the end day? When's the championship game?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Championship? August twenty fourth, ten week season.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
We got one buy you know, so you know, count
us down, check us out every weekend. You know, we
got games either Saturday or Sunday CBS and Vice TV.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And hey, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Come if we're in your town, come check it out
because you got to see seven foot is play three
on three is incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Well, I'm coming, I'm coming. I'm gonna sit with you.
You're gonna have a seat for me right next to you.
That's what I'm talking about. I mean, damn, it's a
courtsut seats are hard to come by every damn place.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
But it better not be with Q.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
If I'm in the house, I better have a seat
waiting for me right next to you.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Bro.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I mean last, I'll sit with you at l a
couple of years ago.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah, no problem, man. You always got to see if
my wife don't come you you right there. If she did,
you got to see.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Now I'm go, I can't come before the wife. I
can't come before the white man. What you been doing
with yourself?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Man?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
How much of your time is being taken up by this?
Because I mean, you're an actor, you obviously a musician.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
You know you be doing your thing. And I gotta
admit to you, I haven't even seen you to say
this to you. It hurt my dam feelings when you
set up there and saying to.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
The Yankees when you know, when you told them about it,
that hurt my feelings. Killed now hurt my feelings because
you know, I'm a Yankee fan and I knew they
were in trouble, and then they came with with with with.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
With Fat Joe.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
I'm like, yo, I love him for the Knicks, but
the Yankees nine stepped out of pocket there.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
I was like, nah, I ain't cute and it ain't
gonna work.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
I was depressed by you know, at the end of
the day, you know, I had fun.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
I'm a big Dodger fan, you know, so I had
to do it, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
You know the Yankees do hurt our hearts so many times.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Gang, you know, I got to try to get ahead
some way, somehow, So it was great to be a
part of that. And uh, you know, it's just just
a you know, I'm a busy man, but I love it.
You know, spend eighteen hours a day on the Big Three.
You know, when I commit to something, I committed one
hundred and tempercent. So that's what it's all about right
(15:19):
now for me. It's all Big Three.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You know. Then we'll jump back on the music.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
I got a tour coming, the Truth to Power Tour
in the fall, So you can't get rid of me, Stephen.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I'm just I'm trying to figure that say it out.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I'm like that brother music car Risk being forty years
and he was about to come out with a new album.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And by the way, you don't look you don't look forty.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I'm looking at you like, damn, it's forty years
of the music industry.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I mean, that's a lot of time. But you don't
look it, bro, you don't look it.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Hey man, people don't realize. You know, I started as
a real young man. You know, I was fourteen, fifteen
years old when I started, you know, wrote my first
hit song at sixteen, you know, a song called Boys
in the Hood for easy Eating rest in Peace. So
been here, you know, doing it, and it's time to
(16:11):
celebrate that, you know, four decades of attitude. You know
you got to catch me when I come to town.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Well, listen, man, let me not forget this from my orders.
You were recently honored with your handprint ceremony of the
Chinese did the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrating your icotic career.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Fans, family friends on hand. What did that day mean
to you?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Man?
Speaker 4 (16:34):
That's a movie star status, you know what I mean.
At the end of the day, a lot of people
got stars, not a lot got their hands and feeding
some men in front of the Man's Chinese theater. So
great honor, something you don't expect. When you get the call.
You just feel, you know, gratitudes of attitude for real,
(16:56):
you know, you just feel blessed to be in this
position and to have a career that people are recognizing.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Uh, decades later.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Man, is it true that you gotta you know, I'm
hearing these reports that the last Friday films and developments
is that true? Fans that finally, uh, you know we've
been okay then.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Fighting the play wait a long time.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
You know they's not just new leadership at New Line
and Warner Brothers with Mike de Luca. You know, now
it's time to start putting the pieces together.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I can never talk to you without giving your son
some love.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I saw then the Thieves two a few months ago,
the Brothers doing this thing. Oh, Shay Jackson. I mean, proud, Papa.
I'm imagining that brother's got talent. My man, He's got
a real, real bright future in Hollywood. As far as
I'm concerned, he can act. I love what I see
from your son. How are you feeling about what he's
doing with himself these days?
Speaker 4 (18:00):
And he's a better actor than me, you know what
I mean, like amazing range, you know, fully dedicated, and
you know, proud that he's running with him. You know
he's not walking with him. And so you know, all
we can do is parents, I know, happy Father's Day
to order. Father's out there that's really involved in their
(18:20):
kids life, no doubt, and so look to you to
really to really you know, being your kids life and
watch them do something, put them in a place to win,
position to win. You want them to do what it takes.
You know, you know I can only put you in
a position to win, can't play for you.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
So you know he out there doing what he needs
to do to win the game. So you know, I'm
proud of it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Ie, Before I let you get on out of here, man,
forgive me for fear left and.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Ask you this question. You're you're an LA native.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
You see what's going on in the streets of Los
Angeles right now with all these protests because of the
Trump administration and ice and what they're doing with migrants.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
And stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And you see a lot of people protesting across the country,
but obviously a lot of it is emanating with the
no Kings protests emanating out of Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
What has been your.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Thoughts about it, because you you you've never been shy
about expressing what you believe is right and what have
you And obviously you know you're politically conscientious as well.
Your thoughts about what you've been seeing.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
It's heartbreaking, you know, see.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
The city go up like this, you know, just to
see the city kind of I mean, the government handle
it in the way they're handling it. You know, they're
they're using a lot of humiliation, you know, and they're
being you know, being very you know, heavy handed. You know,
I understand the laws of the law and all that,
(19:45):
but why you gotta be so heavy handed with what
you're doing so disrespectfully.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Purchase weddings?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
You know, you hit these places, man, and you know
it's just I think it could be turning.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
In a more respectful way. Man, It's just it's not right.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I got you.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I appreciate you, my man. I always appreciate your voice,
appreciate what you're doing. You know, I'm always here for you,
my man. You take care of yourself and I look
forward to talking to you and seeing you soon.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
All right, you be good.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Take it easy, Take it easy, man, always, any time.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Always, no doubt. One and only ice Cube right here
on the Stephen Nate Smith Show. My thanks to the
one and only Q himself. You can catch The Big
Three on CBS and Vice TV. Also The Truth The
Power Tool coming to a city near you, very very soon.
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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