Ice Cube has criticized Adam Silver, suggesting the NBA commissioner is the reason the U.S. 3x3 men's basketball team lost to Serbia on Tuesday.
After Serbia beat Team USA 22-14 at the Olympic Games in Paris, a social media user reached out to Ice Cube on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, to ask if the rapper could "do something about this" by the 2028 Games.
In 2017, Ice Cube founded the 3-on-3 basketball league Big3 with Jeff Kwatinetz, the chief operating officer of Cube Vision, the rapper and actor's film and TV production company.
In response to the X user, Ice Cube wrote: "Because of Adam Silver's pettiness. the U.S. don't have our best athletes in Paris. Embarrassing."
The MTV VMA winner has a long-standing feud with the basketball commissioner, with Ice Cube accusing Silver of feeling threatened by Big3.
The rapper's latest dig at Silver has received more than 63,000 views since he posted it on Wednesday. Newsweek has contacted Adam Silver and Ice Cube for comment via email.
However, several X users were confused by the remark, saying Silver had nothing to do with the 3x3 basketball selection for the 2024 Olympic Games.
"Explain," one user replied to Ice Cube's post.
"Adam Silver has nothing to do with 3x3 eligibility," another added.
A commenter wrote, "What do the rules the Olympics has set for 3v3 have to do with Adam silver?"
Other users were in the "Friday" rapper's corner, with one writing, "Keep fighting Cube!"
Another said, "Ain't no'in but @thebig3, everybody knows!"
"Please don't ever let the NBA hijack what you started," a user wrote.
In October, TMZ reported that Ice Cube had filed a federal lawsuit against the NBA, accusing the organization of attempting to squash his basketball league.
The league is mostly made up of retired NBA players, while some current NBA stars have shown interest in playing in the Big3 during the NBA's offseason.
According to TMZ, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the claims. Ice Cube reportedly accused the NBA of using its influence to steer sponsors and potential business partners away from Big3 and of urging TV stations not to work with the league. The NBA has denied the allegations.
In December, Ice Cube called out Silver on X, writing: "He don't like how we be changing the game...making it better without the @NBA's permission. Adam thinks he owns basketball. But he don't."
In June, the "Check Yo Self" rapper questioned why Silver was reluctant to form a partnership with Big3, as the league is not in competition with the NBA.
During an appearance on The OGs podcast, Ice Cube discussed his league's growth and Silver's refusal to partner up.
"It's been challenging, but it's been rewarding, too, because we know nobody has helped us get to this point," he told hosts and former NBA champions Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.
He added: "They can't really discredit what we've accomplished. We have changed the game for the better."
"NBA fans love us," Ice Cube continued. "We just got a problem with the brass. Adam Silver, Mark Tatum them guys feel threatened. We could have worked together all these years and we wouldn't have made a move without their blessing."
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