BIG3 Signs NBA Legends Clyde Drexler, Rick Barry, Rick Mahorn As Coaches

The BIG3, the new, professional 3-on-3 half court basketball league, announced on Jan. 26 the signings of Clyde Drexler, Rick Barry and Rick Mahorn as coaches. 

Drexler, Barry and Mahorn join Gary Payton, George "The Iceman" Gervin and Allen Iverson, who is a player/coach, as coaches for the league's inaugural season.

The league which was founded by producer, actor and music legend Ice Cube, and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz is scheduled to get underway on June 24. 

Games will be played every Saturday through August 26, in a different arena and city across the country, with locations to be announced shortly. 

All four games will take place on the same day in the same venue, so that fans will be able to see all of their favorite NBA legends at one time.

"When I learned about the quality of the individuals involved in the creation of the league, along with name players, I reached out immediately to lend my coaching experience and become a part of what I think will be a competitive and entertaining league. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide compete in 3-on-3 basketball, but nowhere will you find the caliber of players found in the BIG3," Barry said.

As coaches, Drexler, Barry and Mahorn will work hand-in-hand with the team's player captain and co-captain to guide the team's strategy in the new, 3 on 3 format. 

Player captains will select their coaches as part of a draft that will take place in early Spring.

"We are excited for these three icons to join our league," Roger Mason Jr., league's Commissioner and President, said. "The addition of these greats and the outpouring of interest from our industry continues the incredible momentum and enthusiasm we've seen for the BIG3 since the league was announced."

These signings come on the heels of the recent announcement that Al Harrington and Ricky Davis will join the league as players.

Clyde "The Glide" Drexler is a NBA Hall of Famer, NBA Champion (1995), 10-time NBA All-Star, and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. During his career, he played for the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets and won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics as a member of the storied Dream Team.

Rick Barry is a NBA Hall of Famer, 8-time NBA All-Star, NBA Champion (1975) and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. He is the only player to lead the NCAA, ABA and NBA in scoring for an individual season, and may be best known for his unorthodox, yet effective underhand free throw technique which earned him a .900 free throw percentage, the first in NBA history at the time of his retirement in 1980.

Rick Mahorn won an NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons in 1989. He was best known for his physical play, and was the leader of the Detroit 'Bad Boys Team' of the late 80s. Mahorn also served as assistant coach for the WNBA's Detroit Shock and helped lead them to two WNBA Championship titles.

Talent committed to the BIG3 include: Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Gary Payton, Kenyon Martin, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal, Rashard Lewis, Jason Williams, Bonzi Wells, Mike Bibby, George "The Iceman" Gervin, Ricky Davis, Al Harrington, Rick Barry, Rick Mahorn and Clyde Drexler. Payton, Gervin, Barry, Mahorn and Drexler will serve as coaches, with Iverson serving as a player/coach - the rest are confirmed to play.

For more information and to sign up for news updates, visit BIG3.com.