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The first rule of entertainment is to give the people what they want. Ice Cube’s Big 3 league is undoubtedly an entertainment product, and when it was announced a few months ago that legendary enforcer Charles Oakley would coach one of the teams, the people dared to dream: What if Oak takes the court and starts some shit, like in the old days?
Well that time has come, my friends. I suppose it was inevitable. The 53-year-old Oak suited up for his team, Killer 3s, in Sunday’s matchup with Kenyon Martin’s undefeated Trilogy squad.
Charles Oakley may be banned from MSG but not from @STAPLESCenter - the Player/Coach is suiting up for #BIG3 on Sunday! Must see! pic.twitter.com/tcQEbXQGAz
— BIG3 (@thebig3) August 11, 2017
The game has yet to be shown—FS1 will broadcast Monday night at 8 PM EST—but even the teaser footage is pure #OAKAAK magic. Here we have Oak throwing a nice, tidy backhand at Al Harrington, with bonus commentary from Snoop Dogg:
"I love that he didn't use no Just for Men. He's keeping it O.G." — @SnoopDogg
— FS1 (@FS1) August 14, 2017
Watch @CharlesOakley34 play in @TheBig3 tomorrow at 8 PM ET. pic.twitter.com/7nOQwcDxZg
Oak also nearly got into a brawl with James “Flight” White. Of course.
Charles Oakley is legitimately close to fighting James "Flight" White on the court right now.
— Sean Keane (@seankeane) August 13, 2017
Leave it to K-Mart to be the voice of reason:
“Everybody gonna wanna come out,” Martin said. “They wanna beat us. And Oak, it’s Oak being his first game out there, full of energy; they were looking for a spark.
“It’s all fun and games. We’re all out here competing. It ain’t gonna go over the top. Well, I don’t think it is. We out here having fun; that’s what it’s about. It’s about giving the fans a show, and I think we have for eight weeks.”
Say what you want about the Knicks—past and present—but they always give you a show.