Adidas and the Big3 League have officially announced a multi-year partnership that will see Big3 teams outfitted in Adidas gear for the next three seasons. Starting April 11, Adidas will become the league's official outfitter, manufacturing jerseys for players along with additional apparel including hoodies and T-shirts for fans.
April 11 is a significant date for the Big3, not only because of the start of their Adidas partnership, but also because it marks the 2018 BIG3 Combine in Los Angeles.
"The adidas culture is one imbued with innovation and marked by excellence," said Big3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz. "They are a brand that pushes creative boundaries and have consistently redefined their industry. It is because of these shared ideals that BIG3 is proud to name adidas the league's official apparel sponsor. We look forward to embarking on this partnership with the world's best sports culture brand."
"Ice Cube has that same creator mindset we have at adidas," said Mark King, adidas North America president. "He's challenged the status quo to do extraordinary things throughout his career. No other league blends sport and culture the way BIG3 does. We're incredibly excited to partner with Ice Cube, Clyde and Jeff and help build on the league's vision to make the BIG3 a global brand."
The Big3's second season will reportedly get underway in late June and it will feature many more former NBA stars.
The league has already announced that Amar'e Stoudemire, Nate Robinson, Baron Davis, Metta World Peace, Drew Gooden and Carlos Boozer have all signed on for the second season. Stoudemire and Nate Robinson will be playing for Tri-State, World Peace will be teaming up with his former teammate, Stephen Jackson, as a member of Killer 3s, Boozer will co-captain the Ghost Ballers, and Gooden has signed on as a co-captain of 3's company.
Others former players, such as Greg Oden, Stromile Swift, Smush Parker, Jumaine Jones and Keith Bogans will be competing in the draft combine next week for one of the 19 available roster spots.
In the Big3's inaugural season, Team Trilogy, led by Al Harrington, Rashad McCants and Kenyon Martin, went undefeated and won the championship.