INGLEWOOD, Calif. - - — The BIG3, the premier global 3-on-3 basketball league is now going into its ninth season after getting things started on Saturday afternoon at the Intuit Dome.
All eight teams in the BIG3 were in action on Saturday hoping to begin their run for a BIG3 championship.
The league continues to feature former NBA All-Stars, college hoops legends, international basketball icons, and social media influencers who will be coached by some of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
The BIG3 has brought 3-on-3 basketball its own spotlight leading to it becoming an Olympic sport today.
Year 9 for the league introduced by Hip Hop legend Ice Cube started off with a bang on Saturday.
With Cube’s friends and Hip Hop legends WC and Dr. Dre in the building, the games were very physical and entertaining.
DMV Trilogy led by former Laker Earl Clark who finished with 17 points got things started on the day defeating the Detriot Amp 51-46.
Up next, was a very competitive matchup between the host team, Los Angeles Riot, with Dwight Howard leading the way against the defending champion, Miami 305. The game got really chippy when Howard and former Miami Heat player Michael Beasley got tangled up which led both players getting ejected. The chippy play continued when Lance Stephenson closed lined another former Laker Devin Ebanks leading to Stephenson’s ejection. This led to the game being called which meant Miami 305 lost by forfeit 39-30 because the team was down to just two players available.
26 points by LA-native Amir Johnson helped the Chicago Triplets take home a 51-47 win against the Houston Rig Hands in the third game on the day.
Play came to an end with the Dallas Power knocking off the Boston Bally Hogs who are coached byNBA legend Gary Payton, 51-43.
Even with the ruckus in the Riot and 305 matchup, it was a successful opener for the BIG3 inside the Intuit Dome. The league will return to Los Angeles on July 12th when the games will be played in the Galen Center.
Week Two will be next week when all teams return to play in Detriot, Michigan.