DOJ Investigates NBA for Alleged Antitrust Violations Against Ice Cube’s BIG3 League

The DOJ is looking into the NBA for allegedly trying to sabotage Ice Cube’s BIG3 league. TMZ Sports reports that the NBA may have violated antitrust laws by blocking the Big3’s access to sponsors, partners, and TV networks.

The Big3, co-founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017, features mostly retired NBA players in a 3-on-3 format. The league claims that some current NBA players want to join the Big3, but the NBA has imposed “arbitrary rules” to stop them. The Big3 also says that the NBA has pressured its owners not to invest in the rival league.

The NBA denies these claims and says it has been supportive of the Big3, but not interested in investing. A source tells TMZ that Ice Cube and Kwatinetz met with DOJ lawyers earlier this year and that NBA owners have been contacted by investigators as well.

If the NBA is found guilty of antitrust violations, it could face a hefty fine.