Fresh off yet another successful summer in 2019, the Big 3 will be adding new elements to their product for this upcoming summer. These changes include lowering the age requirement, opening up the league to all athletes and not just former NBA players, and adding new wrinkles to its on the court product.
One of the bigger changes to the on-court product will be a reduced age limit, coupled with NBA experience no longer being a necessity. Instead of having to be 27 or older to play in the league, players as young as 22 can play. Personally, I think this a great direction for the Big 3, as it will allow younger talent to be brought into the league while some of the older, veteran players who no longer wish to play file out. This, along with the league allowing all athletes to try out, and not just restricting the league to professionally experienced basketball players, opens up an entirely different element of competitiveness. Now, guys who think they are good enough to play or who are good enough to play, can try their hand at competing against those with NBA experience. I also think that this will bring in more viewers and different audiences from across sports, because of the fact that you could have athletes who have excelled at other sports playing in the league.
The league also announced a new element to game play, where a team, once per half, can challenge a foul call by having a one on one possession between players, with the winning player's team awarded the ball. This is another wrinkle that will add to the competitiveness and also the excitement from a fan's point of view. Along those same lines, there will be a new red ball used, which will be known as the Fireball. This is another change that shows the creativity of the Big 3 and their willingness to add components that will add to the fan experience.
The biggest change, logistically, is shifting from a Saturday-Sunday, two city set up to a Saturday only, one city set up, where all twelve teams will compete in one city every Saturday. Added to the day's slate of games will be a music festival, as well as the league's "Young3" clinics that will take place on the Friday before the games. I think that this change is great for the fans, as it will add to the fan experience and allow the league to also positively impact the youth in every city with the clinics, while also eliminating the possibility of fan disappointment if their favorite player doesn't play in their home city. Further, I think that it is great for the players and coaches involved in the league, as it cuts down travel. It will also be great for each city from a financial standpoint.
With these changes, the Big 3 is showing one major thing, which is a flexibility and willingness to expand and change. This only enhances the product, as bringing in the new wrinkles that they are makes the league more interesting and attractive to wider audiences. Kudos to Ice Cube, as well as league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz, and commissioner Clyde Drexler for their vision.
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