Pops Mensah-Bonsu Added to BIG3 Draft Pool

By Sam Neter on March 2, 2017

The Tournament

Former Great Britain international Pops Mensah-Bonsu has been added to the BIG3 Draft player pool, meaning a return to the hardwood this summer as he will be suiting up in the highly anticipated 3-on-3 professional basketball league.

Launched Jan. 11, the BIG3, which includes Ice Cube as a co-founder, has garnered attention for the former NBA legends and stars that have committed to play and coach, including the likes of Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Gary Payton, Kenyon Martin, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, Rashard Lewis, Jason Williams, Bonzi Wells, Mike Bibby, George “The Iceman” Gervin, Ricky Davis, Al Harrington, Rick Barry, Rick Mahorn and Clyde Drexler.

BREAKING: Ndudi Ebi, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Lawrence Moten, Andre Owens, and James White join #BIG3draft today. Details: https://t.co/itgwFQIh55 pic.twitter.com/OMx3HeZbF7

— BIG3 (@thebig3) February 27, 2017

Mensah-Bonsu announced his retirement from professional basketball in October of 2015, originally taking on a role with the NBA Players Association, before joining the Spurs as a scout in the East Coast region at the end of last year.

However, he hasn’t been completely removed from playing the game, suiting up for City of Gods last summer in The Tournament.

With the inaugural season of the BIG3 beginning June, 2017, regular season games will follow each Saturday for 10 weeks. Games are played on centred hardwood courts in the best arenas and venues in the US.

The BIG3 will comprise eight teams of five players, one head coach and one assistant coach with games touring in 10 cities across the country.

Mensah-Bonsu will join Ndudi Ebi, Lawrence Moten, Andre Owens, James White, Latrell Sprewell, J.R. Rider, Earl Boykins, Brian Cook, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Kenny Anderson, Smush Parker, Jamario Moon, Ruben Patterson, Etan Thomas, Marcus Banks, Keith Bogans, Derrick Byars, Shane Heal, Mike James, Voshon Lenard, Rashad McCants, Lee Nailon, Eddie Robinson and Xavier Silas as players eligible for the upcoming BIG3 Draft. The BIG3 will announce new signings each Monday leading up to the Draft.

In April 2017, BIG3 will hold a combine for all players in the draft pool. Player captains and co-captains along with the coaches and league executives will watch draft players compete in scrimmages, run drills, and complete strength and conditioning workouts. Following the combine, the BIG3 will hold a draft with each of the eight teams’ captains filling out their five player rosters.

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