Ice Cube Claims FIBA Is Blocking Game Between BIG3 and Olympic Champions Netherlands

Ice Cube has claimed FIBA is preventing the gold medal-winning Netherlands 3-on-3 basketball team from playing in a game against the best of the BIG3 league.

Over the weekend, Cube attended one of the league's games and gave a sideline interview in which he stated that FIBA doesn't want the Netherlands to play in the matchup he proposed during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

"Well, to their credit, they accepted the challenge, but it's FIBA; FIBA is scared of the BIG3, so FIBA is preventing them from playing in our All-Star game," said Cube. "It don't look like it's going to happen because of that. You know it sucks when politicians get in the way of sports and fandom, but we're still going to have a great All-Star game, still going to have a great championship celebrity game next week, no sweat off our brow."

When asked about bringing BIG3 athletes overseas, Cube said, "We'll play them anywhere they want to play, any rules they want to play with, we still think we got the best 3-on-3 players in the world."

BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz also shared some information about FIBA allegedly pulling the plug on the potential matchup. Kwatinetz posted a tweet where he alleged FIBA would remove the Netherlands from its 3x3 Europe Cup if they participated in any BIG3 game.

"Unfortunately it isn't true in 3x3. We challenged the Gold medal winners from the Netherlands. They accepted. Then FIBA stepped in and threatened kicking them out of the eurocup & suspending them….for playing a friendly against us. What are they afraid of? @icecube @thebig3," Kwatinetz tweeted.

There's no official word on FIBA stepping in to prevent the game, but the logistics behind it may be why it isn't happening. The game was proposed for BIG3's All-Star weekend in Boston, which is a few days before the 3x3 Europe Cup that's taking place in Austria.

The distance between Boston and Austria could present some scheduling challenges, but the BIG3 offered to handle all travel expenses. Another issue is the possibility of a player on the Netherlands team suffering an injury during the BIG3 game.

That outcome would be disastrous for a team that is seeded at No. 3 in the tournament and coming off a gold medal win at the 2024 Summer Olympics.