As we await James Dolan to invite Charles Oakley to sit with him at Madison Square Garden, Oakley won’t be holding his breath and is moving on to the next thing in his life. The 53-year-old is going to be a player-coach in the new Big3 league.
Oakley adds his name to the expanding list of former NBA players who have joined Ice Cube’s new league. The Big3 will be a 3v3 league pitting some big names against each other.
Joining Chauncey Billups and Stephen Jackson, Oakley will be player-coach for the Killer 3s. Oakley will join fellow greats like Allen Iverson, George Gervin, Rick Barry, Clyde Drexler and Gary Payton will be player-coaches.
Oakley seemed happy about the new role and was thrilled to be on the ground floor with a new league such as this.
“I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this league. Everyone seems to realize we are about to make history together as players. What an exciting opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best ever.”
The Big3, which debuts this summer, plays half court and is similar to the game we may have played in the driveway as kids. By having their season during the NBA offseason, it will provide a bridge for NBA fans to survive the offseason. Each team will have five players, including a captain and co-captain along with a player-coach.
This seems like it will be a great league and definitely has the support of some all-time greats. These former players seem like they are legitimately looking forward to the league and build it up to what it could potentially be.
[Chicago Tribune/Photo: Getty Images]
