The Big3’s Mike Taylor returns to Milwaukee in winning fashion
MILWAUKEE (BVM) — When the Big3 was founded by musician and actor Ice Cube and his partner Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017, it was a move into uncharted territory. It was an attempt at professional 3-on-3 basketball, traveling to play in cities across the country while offering a more intimate experience.
Since its inception, though, the Big3 has had major success. From signing former big-time NBA players such as Joe Johnson and Al Jefferson, expanding from eight teams to 12 and implementing unique rules, this new league has caught the attention of basketball fans everywhere.
On Thursday night, though, when the league made an appearance in Milwaukee, the story was surrounding one of its players. Mike Taylor, a Milwaukee native and former G-League, overseas and NBA player, was seeing his career come full circle. As a member of the Big3s’ Ghost Ballers, Taylor was once again playing in front of his friends and family.
To make sure he delivered to the hometown crowd, Taylor put on an all-around performance, scoring 16 points alongside six rebounds and three assists in the Ghost Ballers’ win over 3’s Company led by former NBA player, Drew Gooden.
For the Milwaukee product to be doing this at age 35 is impressive, considering his journeyman background. Out of high school, Taylor went down the junior college route, attending Chipola College in Florida. Eventually he earned himself a spot on the Division I Iowa State Cyclones roster, just to get kicked off the team following some issues with the law. Taylor then survived the NBA for just one season with the Los Angeles Clippers, bounced around the G-League, and ended up playing overseas for over a decade.
But his work ethic has propelled him to a national stage once again.
“I knew that I had an NBA talent which I still feel like I have,” Taylor said. “Never giving up on myself. Coming from the background that I come from, that hard-worker, blue-collar mentality. That Milwaukee, never give up energy that I’m always consistently chasing.”
Now, the Big3 has allowed him to do something special and meaningful late in his basketball career.
“Being able to still be playing at a high level, being a pioneer in the Big3 league,” Taylor said. “The Olympics just picked it up a few years ago but we’ve been doing it a little longer. Being a pioneer in an innovative league, it fits the caliber and style of basketball I like to play.”
However, without all of those previous experiences, he may not be the player he is today. Playing in Europe and the Middle East taught Taylor a new style of basketball, one that differs mightily from the isolation-dominant basketball played in much of the U.S. today.
“The style of basketball we play here is different,” Taylor said. “The talent level is very high. It’s a lot of isolation basketball, a lot of 1-on-1. Overseas there are more sets, strategy, technique, pick and roll, it’s a little more strategic.”
Luckily for Taylor, his game is well-traveled and well-versed, meaning he can do whatever is asked of him. And with the league continuing to pick up steam and adding players from all different upbringings, his versatility will be key to his ability to match up with different players and expose them on the offensive end.
For now, though, Taylor will keep his head down and keep grinding the way Milwaukee taught him to. With everything he’s seen and accomplished at this point in his career, who knows what could be next. The Big3 championship will be hosted in the Bahamas on Aug. 28 and Sept. 4, and Taylor has his sights set on that being his next accolade.