<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="American "><span>American</span></a><span> rap icon and Big3 Basketball co-chief executive Ice Cube is joining forces with the NBL to bring the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/basketball" rel="" target="" title="basketball"><span>basketball</span></a><span> format to Aussie cities later this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The announcement by the actor, director and former member of legendary '80s rap group NWA coincided with an exclusive two-show Australian tour, playing to crowds in Melbourne and Sydney over the weekend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I started rapping as a hobby, I never knew it would get me to Australia," he told 9News.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-updates-armed-man-shot-by-secret-service-near-white-house-while-president-out-of-town/4c3d912d-0ad3-47c3-9d00-60a4e1780979" target="_blank"><strong><span>Armed man shot by Secret Service near White House while Trump out of town</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a deal with the NBL, Cube plans to bring his multimillion-dollar three-on-three league to Australia in November.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first-ever international Big3 Showcase will see top players converge in Australian cities, including Melbourne, in a bid to grow interest in the league Down Under.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taking inspiration from street basketball, 3x3 basketball is played in a half-court setup with one backboard and three players on each side.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ice-cube-reveals-plans-to-expand-big3-basketball-in-australia/407fb823-aae7-4b02-b617-ce64f4e007c2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's fun to watch and that's what we've achieved with the Big3," Cube told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"[I'll be] the ambassador, shaking hands, kissing babies, you might see me jump on the mic and entertain the crowd, and perform, you know I can do a song or two at half time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More details on the partnership are expected to be released later this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></a><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>and</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>