Lamar Odom and Baron Davis Among Multiple Former NBA Players Deactivated From BIG 3

The BIG3 gives fans the opportunity to see some of their favorite retired ballers compete, but just because the player is enamored by fans, doesn't mean he's guaranteed a roster spot.

The BIG3 recently announced that Lamar Odom, Baron Davis, Bonzi Wells and Jermaine O'Neal will be deactivated from the league for the remainder of the 2019 season, according to a press release from the league's Twitter account.

The release credits the deactivation of these players "to maximize competition, protect the health of players, and to raise the level of professionalism of the BIG3."

The move comes as a surprise for a league that is still new and looking to gain more traction. Four of the league's biggest names are being deactivated this season, and there's no signal whether or not the players will continue to be apart of the BIG3 moving forward.

Davis announced his decision to step away from the league via Twitter, claiming that it wasn't in his best interest to continue playing.

Former Lakers forward Odom just recently returned to the court, after a lengthy spell away from basketball, but he wasn't up to top shape, and that cost him as he will now be away from the league for the foreseeable future. It was always a long shot that Odom would be able to compete at this level, given his absence from basketball, and the experiment has been shut down early.

Also included in the release is a fine of Glen "Big Baby" Davis for his behavior during a recent BIG3 game. Davis was ejected after passionately disagreeing with a foul call and soaked up some love from the crowd before exiting the court.

The BIG3 is still growing as a league, and it'll be interesting to learn more about the underlying reasons for deactivating these former NBA players. One thing's clear, however: just because you have name recognition, doesn't guarantee you a roster spot.