Ice Cube, a true L.A. icon and legend joins the Klein.Ally.Show on air today, of course always ready to talk basketball, music, the culture, and so much more.
LISTEN NOW: Ice Cube talks with Klein.Ally.Show
First, as a long time Lakers fan, Ice Cube discussed LeBron James’ son Bronny James being on the team, also looking at the situation as a father who has also had a son follow in his footsteps.
“I think it's gonna be a success. I dig it,” Ice Cube tells the Klein.Ally.Show during his visit at KROQ in Los Angeles. “For one, the Lakers have never really leaned on draft picks since Magic Johnson and James Worthy maybe. Our organization has gotten success from seeing other guys become all-stars and then saying, ‘Do you want to be a Laker?’ So, we're not really looking for the draft, and if this is going to make LeBron happy, like, why not?”
When it comes to the WNBA, he says “It's been nice to see the league get so much attention. One thing about the WNBA, what’s great is the players want to win and you don't always know that about the NBA players. It’s still on the level of passion for the game, and that's what really gets fans going.”
This happened to be a major reason why, to be a part of Ice Cube’s Big3, WNBA player Caitlin Clark was offered a $5 million deal. “For one,” he explains, “our sponsors were adamant that it would unlock millions of dollars when she came to our league because of the attention of her playing against guys and seeing if the game transfers. So, we went for it and it didn't work out but, you know, we wish her all the best.”
In regard to finding and securing players, Ice Cube says, “One thing about basketball players, they're a community so whether they're in the NBA or not, they still communicate and they're still involved and they still work out together. They play pick-up games together. So, we just tapped into that community with our head of basketball operations, Thomas Scott, who's Byron Scott's son; Him and Dion Glover. These are two guys that stay tapped in and at our combine, we have over 100 players going for like 22 spots. A lot of our guys play overseas all around the world and they still want to show you what they got on a high level. If you can't make it over to the Honda Center this Sunday, come check us out on CBS -- games start at noon.”
With more success in the league comes expansion. “The league has caught on fire,” Ice Cube says. “So it's really about now, we're selling teams. We're gonna have a team based in Los Angeles which is cool because we’ll have Big3 here from here on out… Houston, Detroit, and Miami. We're gonna sell the other eight franchises and hopefully expand to 16 teams, maybe 20.”
Whether or not he thinks any of his music industry friends could make it in the Big3 is another question altogether. “You know, there’s definitely some good ones out there. I don't know if they could play in this league,” Ice Cube admits. “These guys have honed their skills and they know every trick of the trade and they battle. Our guys play hard. So, I don't know if these rap dudes, when they come out the club, you know, they're off to Hennessy, they're blowing blunts, you know what I mean? They go play with a blunt in their mouth, you know, I don't know if they're ready for Joe Johnson on the give and go.”
Looking back at all of his accomplishments in music, television, movies, as a GRAMMY winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a father, and now a basketball league founder, Ice Cube tells us his proudest moments are with “my kids without a doubt. Coming in at a close second, getting this league off the ground has been the hardest thing I've ever attempted in my life. It's been eight years now of pushing a big boulder uphill and it's cool to really kind of see where we're starting to roll downhill. I'm proud of that. Third would be making it to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It’s been one of those things that you don't dream of. You start your career, you do your thing,, and then one day somebody let you know, ‘Hey, you did enough to be basically honored in this place in history.'”
Speaking of honors, Dr. Dre, who recently got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, mentioned Ice Cube in his acceptance speech as one of the many people who received a star before him. “I wouldn't be here without Dr. Dre,” he says in agreement. “So, he definitely should have got a star in music first.” Although he flexed, “I need one in movies now.”
Following the exodus of celebrities from the City of Angels post-COVID, does Ice Cube ever foresee himself living anywhere but Los Angeles? “I don't see that world. You know, even if it's an earthquake, I'm not going,” he says. “I've been to a lot of places in the world and to me, nothing offers more than Los Angeles.”
For more, listen to the Klein.Ally.Show's full interview with Ice Cube above, and stay tuned for more conversations with your favorite stars and artists right here on KROQ.