The career lifespan for an NBA baller is about five years on average. So what comes of these players, many of whom have spent their entire lives preparing for a career in basketball, once it's all over? The more popular of them and those with big personalities often find life after the league as sports commentators. Others go on to become coaches and entrepreneurs. Still, many are left spinning their wheels once they wrap their final professional season.

Thanks to rapper, producer, actor and filmmaker, Ice Cube with the help of Roger Mason, deputy executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), there is new life post-NBA.

Mason, who is resigning his NBPA post, and Cube are working to bring a league called the BIG3 to cities and venues starting summer 2017. The three-on-three, half-court basketball league will include eight teams of five players, a coach, and a team captain- all former NBA players. According to league officials, Kenyon Martin, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, Rashard Lewis and Jason Williams are a few of the players who have already committed to the league that will begin touring starting in late June.

“I thought of this concept as a fan who got sick of seeing his heroes retire and not play anymore,” Ice Cube told The Vertical. “A lot of these guys can still play once they retire – just not the back-to-backs or four games in five nights.”

The league is working to secure a television rights deal to provide a reprieve to basketball fans suffering through NBA Final’s withdrawal. We would like to personally thank Ice Cube, Roger Mason and the teams for giving us this much-needed dose of black excellence to look forward to in 2017.

Photo: Giphy

PHOTO: Giphy

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