Big 3 News: Lisa Leslie Talks Match Up Against Power In Kansas City
On Saturday, July 20th, the BIG3 will invade Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo, for the first time. The venue will host games that will feature three on three basketball with former NBA players such as Amare Stoudemire, Gilbert Arenas, Nate Robinson, and will also feature former Kansas Jayhawks‘ Mario Chalmers, Drew Gooden, and Julian Wright.
During a conference call earlier this week Big 3 co-founder Ice Cube expressed his excitement to bring Big 3 basketball to Kansas City for the first time.
“I think it’s big, you know,” Ice Cube said.
“I wish we had more Jayhawk players, but we’re happy to be around Kansas City and happy to have a few Jayhawks to get the fans excited. We were in Kentucky in Year 1 because of the big basketball tradition (there) and we’re excited to be near Kansas for this one. We just want to make sure everybody who wants to experience the games live gets to.”
Saturday’s second game will feature Hall of Fame coach Nancy Liberman and the defending league champions “Power” with a 3-1 record take on Hall of Fame Lisa Leslie and Triplets (4-0).
Per Big 3 commissioner Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, if there were a marquee matchup, this would be it.
“If ever there was a marquee matchup, this is it. You don’t want to miss that game.”
Earlier today, I spoke with Triplet’s head coach Lisa Leslie by phone and she shared her experience of being a first-year coach in the Big 3.
“In has actually been great! The transition from being a player to a coach is not necessarily that far off because you rely heavily on your basketball I.Q. I have played so much basketball at the highest level, that the guys and I speak the same language. We understand exactly what our goal is and I think we have similar, work ethic. They why I come prepared with a game plan, they come prepared to execute it. So, I really have been blessed just to have the players I have, and they are all important because there are only six players on each team. Each one of those individuals is essential to our success.”
As for the upcoming coaching duel with fellow Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, this weekend, Leslie acknowledged that both her, and Lieberman have won on every single level, but the game was about their players.
“Well, honestly, it is not about Nancy and I, we have won on the highest level. It is about our guys being able to compete and I always say if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. Power, they are the reigning champions in the Big 3, lead by Nancy Lieberman, so obviously she has a great mind for basketball. She also has the ability to inspire her team to want to win, so I would like to see that. I have the same credentials to inspire our team to win and I attribute that to our success thus far, this season.
Triplets will take on Power at 4 p.m. EST on CBS. Make sure you check your local listing.
Originally posted on The Hype Magazine.
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