Ice Cube's BIG3 At The Center Of DOJ's NBA Antitrust Violation Inquiry

It’s going down.

According to Yahoo, an investigation into the NBA is underway following the organization allegedly targeting Ice Cube’s BIG3 league through antitrust violations.

In fact, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an inquiry into the National Basketball Association “after it reportedly exhibited anticompetitive behavior to eliminate the BIG3’s growth as an entity of its own."

What are the claims? The allegations report that the NBA reportedly used “its status to prevent sponsors and potential partners from doing business with the league," which was started BY world-renowned gangster rapper and movie star Ice Cube, along with his business partner Jeff Kwatinetz." The NBA also supposedly attempted to “deter television networks from broadcasting the new league’s games.”

Cube’s BIG3 embarked in 2017 and comprised mostly all retired NBA players.

Additionally, current NBA players have reportedly wanted to compete in the league, which is 3-on-3; however, according to the BIG3, the NBA has implemented “arbitrary rules in place to stop players from hooping” in the BIG3.

The BIG3 highlights that the NBA and the BIG3 don’t have seasons that overlap, and it isn’t uncommon for current NBA players to play in non-NBA games after retiring from basketball.

One example is that the Los Angeles Drew League is frequented by NBA players well after the regular season.

According to Afrotech, this isn’t the first that Ice Cube accused the NBA of attempting to “thwart his plans with the Big3."

Along with targeting players, reportedly NBA owners have been “discouraged from investing in the Big3 while they own an NBA franchise."

But NBA spokesperson Mike Bass told TMZ the “claims are not true.”

“We have been supportive of the BIG3 since its inception, but declined to invest,” Bass said.

But Ice Cub and Kwatinetz reportedly met with DOJ lawyers earlier in the year, according to a source familiar with the current DOJ investigation.

And NBA owners are said to have officially received communication from investigators on the case as well.

Reports reveal the NBA could receive a significant fine should it be proven that the league did commit antitrust violations.

A few months ago, according to Clutchpoints, Cube fired a warning at NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Twitter, which is now called “X.”

Silver really needs to worry about the new ABA that’s coming. These foreign investors will "purge the NBA of top talent like LIV GOLF did to the PGA.”

This was a response to NBA owners wanting to invest in the BIG3 but Silver not allowing it.

Photo Credit: BIG3