Fansided

BIG3 league to admit kids into games for free thanks to Rashard Lewis

By Derek Helling

May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Rashard Lewis (9) reacts against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Rashard Lewis (9) reacts against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The upcoming inaugural season of a new 3-on-3 basketball league, BIG3, will feature free game tickets for children up to 13 years of age thanks to former NBA player Rashard Lewis.

In a recent Huffington Post op-ed, NBA champion and player in the new BIG3 league Rashard Lewis has committed to paying for the tickets of every child 13 or under who attends a game in the league’s first season.

The article penned by Lewis, entitled “Why I’m Back,” went live on Monday. It contains personal anecdotes of the importance of sports in his life as an adolescent and child in Houston, Texas.

"Without my mother and my uncle and sports, I don’t know where I’d be…I have to say that sports is what kept me out of trouble."

It’s that same benefit that Lewis now wants to pass on to as many young sports fans as possible.

"When my good friend Roger Mason, Jr., approached me last year about this new professional 3-on-3 basketball league (Roger, a teammate of mine with the Washington Wizards and the Heat, is the commissioner), I was immediately interested. In fact, it was a no-brainer. Not only was this an opportunity for my kids to see me take the court again, but it was a whole new opportunity for kids around the country to discover the excitement of 3-on-3 basketball. More importantly, it might be the best chance for some kids to go to a professional basketball game. And it’s damn sure a good way to keep kids off the street and out of trouble."

Not only could Lewis’ gesture pay off in terms of helping young people make good decisions on how to spend their time, but it could also pay off in terms of attendance for the league. Cost is a prohibitive factor for many families in terms of attending professional sporting events. Eliminating the need to buy tickets for children could result in greater attendance, which in turn could lead to expanded opportunities for the league.

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If this initiative results in booming attendance figures for BIG3 games, it’s not that far-fetched to imagine other emerging leagues and teams who struggle to draw fans playing copycat. Perhaps the Miami Marlins should have tried giving away kids tickets for its recent home game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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