The National Basketball Association is reportedly being investigated by federal authorities for allegedly pressuring its owners, players, advertisers and partner television networks not to do business with a competing league fronted by rapper Ice Cube.
The Justice Department’s antitrust division is looking into claims raised by officials involved in Big3, a three-on-three basketball league that largely features retired NBA players, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Big3 executives met with DOJ officials in Washington, DC, in January to flesh out their claims that the NBA was violating federal antitrust law, according to the Journal.
Sources told The Journal that the Justice Department is looking to ascertain whether the NBA has pressured its owners from investing in the nascent Big3.
The investigation, which was first revealed last week by the news site TMZ, is looking into whether the NBA leaned on its advertisers and TV partners to shun Big3.
The NBA has denied claims that it has sought to keep its own players from participating in Big3 events, which was co-founded by the former NWA rapper and popular actor of the “Friday” franchise.
So far, just one active NBA player — Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics — has taken part in a Big3 game, competing in last summer’s All-Star contest.
Big3, the three-on-three basketball league co-founded by rapper Ice Cube, is alleging antitrust violations by the NBA.Getty Images for Idol Roc Entertainment
Current NBA players have reportedly expressed a desire to participate in Big3 games, but Ice Cube’s league suspects that they have been dissuaded from doing so.
Big3 games take place in the summer, during the NBA’s offseason.
NBA rules prohibit owners from holding “any direct or indirect financial interest in” another non-NBA basketball team or league. The league’s referees have also allegedly been told that they are not to officiate any Big3 games.
The Post has sought comment from the NBA.
Contact information for Big3 was not immediately available.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
Mike Bass, a spokesperson for the NBA, told TMZ last week that the claims of antitrust violations “are not true.”
The Justice Department is probing whether the NBA pressured its players, owners, referees, advertisers, and TV partners to shun Big3.NBAE via Getty Images
“We have been supportive of the Big3 since its inception, but we declined to invest,” Bass said.
The league has attracted former NBAers including Rashard Lewis and Corey Maggette.
NBA legends such as Julius Erving, Gary Payton and Rick Barry have coached teams, as have former Knicks forward Charles Oakley and women’s hoops hall-of-famer Nancy Lieberman.
If the NBA is in violation of antitrust law, it could face significant fines from the federal government.
The NBA isn’t the only professional sports league that has come under scrutiny for alleged antitrust violations.
Two minor league baseball teams have asked the Supreme Court to strike down a Major League Baseball rule that they say is part of “sweeping immunity” that has shielded the MLB from antitrust liability for more than a century.
Minor league baseball teams Tri-City ValleyCats and Norwich Sea Unicorns filed the legal challenge in September in a bid to revive their claims against professional baseball.
The minor league teams, represented by Weil, Gotshal & Manges, contend that MLB’s restructuring in 2020 — restricting how many minor league teams can be affiliated with professional clubs -— should not be immune from antitrust liability.
It’s been alleged that the NBA — commissioned by Adam Silver — has not allowed owners to invest in Big3.NBAE via Getty Images
The 2020 reshuffling at the heart of the case cut the number of minor league affiliates from 160 to 120 and blocked major league teams from affiliating with more than four minor league clubs.
The Biden Justice Department filed briefs in the trial and appellate courts supporting the minor league teams.
DOJ has also been investigating the PGA Tour after it merged with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf.
