The Big 3, a league that has now become home to retired NBA stars, has been doing great although founder Ice Cube stresses that it is a competitive tournament. In the eyes of some, it is more of a glorified celebrity-tainted hoop league although the American rapper has finally spoken out to explain that this is not the case.

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Ice Cube stressed that point. “It is a pro league,” Cube said. “It’s not a celebrity game, or a pick-up game, or an all-star game.”

One can only look at the case of Lamar Odom, a well-known NBA baller who was recently cut from the league. In a recent post, Ice Cube felt that the former Los Angeles Laker was not in game shape although the 39-year-old cager felt it was all mishandled properly. Regardless of how bad the separation looks, Ice Cube says the door is not closed for the former Sixth Man of the Year awardee (2011).

There are of course a lot of names in the half-court 3-on-3 basketball league which is now in its third year. With familiar names like Amar'e Stoudemire, Will Bynum and Corey Maggette able to show they still got game, the names of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan came into the picture. Seeing how these two retired NBA stars wowed the basketball crowd, some feel that they still have something to give.

However, Ice Cube explained in the same interview that there are things to consider for both Bryant and Jordan. On the part of Kobe, Ice Cube admitted that they are talking although it is not about actually playing in the league.

"He’s told me he’s not going to play, so I’m going to take him for his word until he shows me otherwise," Ice Cube said.

As for Jordan, Ice Cube pointed out how His Airness has an NBA team to run. If ever he is invited, it would be about possibly becoming a part-owner of the Big 3. As far as playing, the only way the American Rapper feels that he was not busy managing his team, there is a chance MJ could probably try.

"It would probably be as part-owner, not as a coach or a player. Since he owns the Hornets, he can’t play. I think if he didn’t, he probably would try. He probably would play," Ice Cube said.

Michael Jordan
NBA Hall of Famer and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan walks off the court during the NBA All-Star Game 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Feb. 14, 2016. Elsa/Getty Images