Last week, the BIG3 kicked off its fourth season in Las Vegas. Since Ice Cube founded the 3-on-3 hoops league in 2017, the world has received a second chance to see the likes of Allen Iverson and Jason Williams lace ‘em up. Just the same, the league now covers the full spectrum of hoops, providing a platform for emerging talent like Frank “Nitty” Sessions while enlisting Hall of Famers such as Lisa Leslie and Julius “Dr. J” Erving as coaches.
Playing games in Las Vegas and New Orleans this season, the BIG3 has a ton of talent and a lot on the line. While stars such as Jarrett Jack and Isaiah Briscoe will be battling for NBA eyes, our focus attending games in person and watching on CBS is all about sneakers.
Talking kick game with the talent associated with the BIG3 over numerous roundtable and press conference sitdowns, hear about the favorite pairs they played in, their funniest sneaker stories, and who Ice Cube would like to see outfit his league.
Drew Gooden in the Nike Shox VC & James White in the Nike Air Hyperflight (via Bleacher Report & Sole Collector)
SoleSavy: Whether it be college, high school, or the pros, what were the wildest shoes you rocked in a game?
Drew Gooden (Kansas, NBA vet, 3’s Company): I actually wore the Dunks at Kansas. I wore the VC Shox, too, and I shouldn’t have worn them because that was the worst game I played all season. Nike wanted me to wear them, and they gave them to me before they came out. They were silver, and I was trying to look cute in a big game, and I got whooped. I had blood all in my sock from blisters. That was a bad shoe.
Nancy Lieberman (Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Kings, Power): I played in canvas Converse. I recently realized through the magic of therapy that I recommended cutting a hole in the basket to Dr. Naismith because he was exhausted from going up and down the ladder.
James White (Florida, Cincinnati, New York Knicks, Trilogy): I got in trouble for wearing the Hyperflights [at Florida].
Nike Hyperdunk ‘08 “United We Rise” via Nike, Inc.
SoleSavy: When it comes to strictly performance, what’s the best pair you ever played in?
Frank “Nitty” Sessions (Drew League, Killer 3s): The Hyperdunk 2008. That was my favorite shoe to play in ever. It was light, and the traction was there; they just didn’t hold up. But if I had an unlimited supply of those? I’d wear those for the rest of my life.
Jarrett Jack (Georgia Tech, NBA vet, Trilogy): My favorite shoe ever? The Nike Zoom BB1. Great guard shoe.
Joe Alexander (West Virginia, Milwaukee Bucks, Power): I like Cosmic Unitys. They’re the most comfortable shoes ever. It’s tough to play in them because they’re really heavy, but they’re so comfortable I feel like they’ve fixed all my injuries. That’s a great shoe.
Isaiah Briscoe (Kentucky, Trilogy): Air Jordan 7. They’re comfortable.
Air Jordan XX9 (via Nike, Inc.)
Derrick Byars (NBA vet, Power): The Air Jordan XX9s with the big Jumpman on the side. They felt like socks, and I’m looking for a pair now.
Renaldo Balkman (South Carolina, New York Knicks, Aliens): Air Jordan 10s. They were light, and I felt like Jordan. When I put them on I felt like I could fly.
Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga, NBA vet, Triplets): As a pro, Kobe 9s and Kyries. In college, I wore a lot of LeBrons and the first Hyperdunks. Those were tough.
Ryan Hollins (UCLA, NBA vet, ESPN, 3’s Company): I fell in love with Kobes for performance even though I’m a big guy. I like to move my feet and slide on pick and rolls, so I wear low tops. I just do my ankle moves and exercises; give me some Kobes.
Nike Kobe 10 Elite (via Nike, Inc.)
SoleSavy: A lot of you picked Kobes to play in. When looking at the Mamba’s line, what models stick out as your favorite?
Abdoulaye Ndoye (France, Power): The high-top Kobe 10s, the Elite.
Royce White (Iowa State, Houston Rockets, Power): Nike Kobe AD Mid. That’s my favorite one so far. Rest in peace to the Mamba.
Josh Powell (NC State, Los Angeles Lakers, Killer 3s): I played with Kobe, and I think my favorites have been the 4s, 5s, and 6s. I like low and light sneakers.
Cuttino Mobley in the Nike Shox BB4 & Amir Johnson in the Air Jordan 12 “OVO” (via Bleacher Report & Nice Kicks)
SoleSavy: What’s a pair of shoes that personally hold a special place for you?
Cuttino Mobley (Rhode Island, NBA vet, Power): Boing! The Shox. That was me, Vince Carter, and Allan Houston. We did all the commercials, and for me, that was the best shoe.
Amir Johnson (NBA vet, Trilogy): I was one of the first to have the “OVO” Air Jordan 12s, but probably the Air Jordan 11.
Lisa Leslie (USC, Los Angeles Sparks, Triplets): My shoe [the Nike Total Air 9]. I patterned my shoe off Chanel because I couldn’t afford Chanel back in the day. It had the black Chanel puffs. I always wear silver jewelry, so it had a silver Swoosh on it. It had my touch on it. I appreciated Nike allowing me to do it and be a part of the process. You hear people talk about it, but I helped design my shoe, and I loved it. I was very thankful. I wish they could’ve continued that process so it wouldn’t be so foreign for women to have their own shoes.
Qyntel Woods (Portland Trailblazers, Trilogy): The Air Jordan 3 because those were my first Jordans ever. I played in the Air Jordan XX3 overseas, too.
Antoine Walker’s Adidas AW8 aka the Cyber-Toines (via Nice Kicks)
James White (Florida, Cincinnati, New York Knicks, Trilogy): The Adidas Cyber-Toines when I was in high school. They were so comfortable, the most comfortable shoe ever—them and the Pro Models, the original ones.
Renaldo Balkman (South Carolina, New York Knicks, Aliens): The Air Jordan 10. I got them as a retro when I was older. I didn’t have too many Jordans growing up. I was at South Carolina when I got them, and then I went to the Knicks the next season. It’s hard to find a shoe when you’re a size 15. You can’t even find a 12 in the store unless you want to pay $1,000 at Flight Club. When I was in New York, I had all the Jordans.
Nancy Lieberman (Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Kings, Power): I’m a Jordan girl, patent leather.
Jerome “Junkyard Dog” Williams (Georgetown, NBA vet): The kente cloth uniforms [at Georgetown] were the start of an era. My teammate Allen Iverson, one of the co-founders of the BIG3, was an iconic Hall of Famer. We broke out the Jordans, and we were the first team with them. The kente cloth and the Jordans? That’s all us.
Michael Cooper in the Nike Air Force II & Charles Oakley in New Balance (via Hoops Habit & NBA)
SoleSavy: Speaking to the veteran coaches, what were your footwear journeys like back during your playing days?
Michael Cooper (Los Angeles Lakers, 3’s Company): When I got to the pros, I started out at Adidas. I became a Nike person for about 12 years, and then ASICS threw a whole bunch of shoes and money at me. They were known for volleyball shoes at that time, and now I wear whatever is comfortable.
Charles Oakley (NBA vet, Killer 3s): I didn’t have a favorite shoe. Give me a size 16, and they’re comfortable? I’ll wear them. I started with Converse and went to New Balance and then Nike and Jordan, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t the type of guy who wanted to be cute on the floor.
Ice Cube & Kanye West talking courtside at Weekend 2 of the BIG3 in Las Vegas (photo by Ashley Teague)
SoleSavy: Cube, my guy Gabe Oshin from NiceKicks asked you about having an official footwear sponsor for the BIG3. Speak on that.
Ice Cube (Rapper, Movie Star, BIG3 Founder): We would love to be with Yeezy. We were with Adidas for a few years, but because of the pandemic and their cash flow shortfalls, they weren’t our sponsor this year. Of course, we want to check off the shoe company box, so we’re open and interested. We’re looking for that right fit, and Yeezy Sports does fit that vibe. You saw me over there talking to Ye, right? He brings a dynamic that we want to be associated with: young, cool, new, and fresh.
SoleSavy: That would be major. Have discussions about that begun?
Ice Cube (Rapper, Movie Star, BIG3 Founder): We’re supposed to talk later, so hopefully, I can have some good news.
SoleSavy: And lastly, Frank, I see you in the Yeezy FOAM RNNR. Years ago, you modeled the Fear of God x Nike collection for your friend, Jerry Lorenzo. With him making the move to Adidas, will we see you join him there?
Frank “Nitty” Sessions (Drew League, Killer 3s): Not yet, but we’re talking though.
Tune into the BIG3 every Saturday & Sunday on CBS. For tickets, click here.
