The NBA is being investigated by the United States Department of Justice over allegations the league attempted to sabotage Ice Cube’s Big3 league, according to TMZ Sports. The league has denied the allegations.
Ice Cube and Big3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz have met with Department of Justice lawyers regarding concerns the NBA may have engaged in anticompetitive behavior.
The allegations include the NBA interfering with sponsorship deals, discouraging television networks from broadcasting games, and making arbitrary rules to prevent players from joining the league, despite the NBA and Big3 seasons not overlapping.
The report also claims Big3 officials believe they have been “unfairly targeted by the NBA” and sources in the story say NBA owners have been discouraged from investing in Ice Cube’s league.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told TMZ the allegations were “not true”.
“We have been supportive of the Big3 since its inception, but we declined to invest.”
The NBA would face a substantial fine if found guilty.
The BIG3 is in direct competition with the WNBA season.
Ice Cube wanted to work with the NBA as a developmental league even though the NBA has the G-League and the BIG3 is a roadshow of retired NBA players.
Why would the NBA work with BIG3?
It’s not in direct competition
They are when it comes to TV broadcasts.
If the BIG3 comes to an WNBA city, they are competing for ticket sales and sponsorship dollars.
The people going to BIG3 games would not be going to WNBA games.