Big3, the 3×3 basketball competition co-founded by rapper Ice Cube and his business partner Jeff Kwatinetz, is set to go public through a business combination agreement with Graf Global Corp, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.
When the transaction closes, the publicly traded company will be named Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc. and is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American, or Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ‘TONT’ (3-on-3).
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The transaction values Big3 at $290 million and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The combined company will be led by the Big3 management team, including co-founder and chief executive officer O’Shea Jackson (Ice Cube), co-founder and chairman Jeff Kwatinetz, president Sean Bannon, and commissioner Clyde Drexler.
O’Shea Jackson, Sr. said: “We are excited for Big3 to be the first publicly traded professional sports league in the US. Leading a new generation of emerging sports, BIG3 connects basketball to culture, fans, and our team communities.
“Going public is our next step. This lifts us to a bigger stage, accelerates our international potential, and gives our fans a way to grow with us, support us, and participate in our success.”
Under the agreement, Graf Global Corp will offer fans the opportunity to buy stock in the league.
James Graf, chief executive officer of Graf Global Corp, added: “There are few, if any, opportunities for public markets investors to own equity directly in professional sports leagues or teams.
“We believe such investments may deliver uncorrelated returns over time, especially seeing the appreciation of team values and the growth of sports advertising across media.
“We have high hopes for where they [Jackson and Kwatinetz] can take Big3 in the future as a well-capitalized public company.”
Big3 will start its ninth season in Los Angeles on June 20. The league's title game is set for August 22 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
