Ice Cube talks BIG3 in Boston 4-point shots and ‘Last Friday’

The BIG3’s Boston Ball Hogs are set to make their TD Backyard debut Sunday night.

Boston.com caught up with league co-founder and leisure mogul Ice Cube forward of the matchup.

Ice Dice touched on a spread of subjects, together with what to anticipate this weekend, an replace on the “Friday” film sequence, and what Lakers followers take into consideration the Celtics having to interrupt up their roster.

The interview has been frivolously edited for size and readability.

The BIG3 is again in Boston this weekend. How are you feeling?

“I really feel nice. I’m dwelling the dream. Being in Boston is extraordinarily good for the BIG3 as a result of Boston has been nice for us. We wished to play right here yearly. Now, having the Boston Ball Hogs, that offers us an excuse to return again right here yearly. Hopefully, a number of instances per 12 months sooner or later as we play extra video games.”

The All-Star recreation and the championship spherical have been right here final 12 months. It appeared like successful, proper?

“Sure, and the 12 months earlier than that. Popping out one 12 months, Jaylen Brown acquired an opportunity to examine us out and ended up enjoying within the All-Star recreation in London. That was a giant second for us. The Celtics have been nice to us, personally. Simply very accommodating. It’s simply been an important match.”

That is going to be our first time seeing the Boston Ball Hogs (1-2) at dwelling. What ought to folks anticipate?

“Hopefully a win. They’re going up in opposition to Dwight (Howard) and the LA Riot, so that you may need some “Beat LA” chants come out right here and there. However, on the finish of the day, they’re coached by Gary Payton. He’s a championship coach. He received the championship final 12 months with one other squad. So, hopefully they’ll put all of it collectively.”

We all know “The Glove” from his enjoying days, however what’s Gary Payton like as a coach?

“His teaching type is no-nonsense. He’s not going to pat you on the again for doing what you’re presupposed to do, however he’s going to kick you within the [expletive] for not doing what you’re presupposed to do. You’ve acquired to step as much as play for Gary Payton.”

Payton Pritchard mentioned he’d wish to see half-court heaves rely as 4-pointers within the NBA. The BIG3 already has 4-point photographs. What does that add to the sport?

“It provides a wrinkle that you would be able to’t see in skilled basketball wherever else. It provides pleasure. You’re by no means out of a recreation with these 4-point circles. I feel the half-court is just too far. Our circles are 30 toes. That’s a pleasant lengthy shot.

“We didn’t do an arc as a result of we felt it could be too many makes an attempt. You don’t need guys to simply take the ball out and begin heaving them from in all places. The circles make sense as a result of it retains the makes an attempt manageable and you’ll defend a circle. You may’t defend an arc. Guys can’t even get out to the 3-point arc generally, not to mention the 4-point arc.”

If you happen to needed to put collectively a dream BIG 3 of retired Celtics, who would your three be?

“Larry Chicken, in fact. Invoice Russell. I’d want a guard. Give me Tiny Archibald. (Paul) Pierce can ball, I feel him and Larry form of take up the identical area, however I’ll take Larry.”

How do Lakers followers really feel concerning the Celtics having to interrupt up their group below the monetary constraints of the brand new CBA?

“That’s the issue in sports activities proper now. BIG3 has a rule that in the event you win the championship, it’s a must to run it again. No drafts, identical squad, carry it again. The opposite groups can draft, however it’s a must to run it again with the identical squad. I feel followers wish to see that. They don’t wish to see championship groups break up. The Lakers try this on a regular basis, win the championship after which dudes are gone. It’s maddening to a fan.”

How do you stability that, wanting parity and realizing that you simply grew up on dynasties just like the Celtics and Lakers within the 80s? Aren’t dynasties a part of what makes the sport nice?

“You need a regular to be established that everyone is chasing. An excessive amount of parity begins to be an excessive amount of of a toss-up. There must be a regular set and normally the championship group units that commonplace. Breaking them up, to me, is just not conserving the usual. It’s truly like throwing the child out with the bathtub water.”

How cool was it to see Gerald Inexperienced win the BIG3 title with Bivouac at TD Backyard final 12 months?

“It’s wonderful. We put this league collectively as a result of we wished extra basketball. The summer time is boring in relation to sports activities. If you happen to like basketball and soccer, you’re simply ready. However, I by no means actually thought-about how a lot this might assist their psychological well being and their capability to meet desires nonetheless.

“You don’t cease dreaming since you’re out of the NBA. You dream so long as you’re alive. These guys nonetheless have accomplishments that they wish to get on the basketball court docket and to offer them that stage to get a championship within the BIG3, I do know that was particular for him.”

Might you clarify among the elements of the BIG3 which can be distinctive/attention-grabbing?

“You’re going to get 4 video games for the worth of 1. That’s one factor. We play the sport the best method, and that’s appreciated. It’s quick and bodily.

“You’ll acknowledge a whole lot of the celebs which can be enjoying and training, and if you wish to get an autograph from them, no person goes to deal with you and ban you from the world for all times. It’s a enjoyable ambiance, a whole lot of leisure from dancers to DJs to dunkers. It’s like a mini-All-Star recreation.”

Any updates on “Final Friday”, the newest installment in your Friday film sequence that’s reportedly within the works?

“We’re about to get in a room with some nice, good, humorous folks and create a masterpiece.”

How are you going to work round the truth that among the unique forged, (together with Bernie Mac, John Witherspoon, and Tiny Lister Jr) are not with us?

“The identical method you get round it when folks that you simply love are out of your life. You’ve acquired to deal with it, settle for it, and transfer on.”

Do you’ve a goal date in thoughts?

“No targets, there’s no cause to place strain on ourselves. When the meals is prepared, all people goes to eat.”

You’ve acquired so much happening, together with a brand new music tour. Inform us about it.

“It’s the Reality to Energy tour. 4 a long time of perspective. I’ve been doing this for 40 years, I began rapping within the ninth grade, so I used to be 14. So, it’s been a minute. There’s been a whole lot of music between then and now and it’s time to have fun it. It’s time to replicate and wrap it up in a bow and do a giant manufacturing round it.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the group in 2022, Khari coated faculty soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.