- WNBA. The lucrative Big3 offer that Caitlin Clark turned down
- NBA. The New York Knicks can't escape their history, and their Game 1 loss has fans wondering if there really is a curse and when it will end
When Ice Cube launched the BIG3 in 2017, most people treated it like a novelty-a flashy, summer sideshow starring retired NBA vets. Eight years later, no one's laughing. The league has become a legit platform with real fans, real competition, and now, a real plan to rival basketball's biggest players.
And one of those players? Dwight Howard. After globetrotting across leagues in Taiwan and Puerto Rico and showing up in The Basketball Tournament, Howard has landed with the Los Angeles Riot, a brand-new franchise in a brand-new BIG3.
That's because, for the first time ever, the league is going full city-mode.
Eight franchises. Eight major cities. Legendary coaches. A structured identity. For Ice Cube, it's more than growth-it's evolution. "These cities have shown up for us year after year," he said in a recent interview with CBS Sports. "We're proud to give fans a team to call their own."
From Touring to Territory: BIG3 Gets a Home-Base Makeover
The 2025 season kicks off June 14, with stops in just four cities-but every team now reps a home base. Boston Ball Hogs (coached by Gary Payton), Dallas Power (Nancy Lieberman), and the Detroit Amplifiers (George Gervin) bring serious Hall of Fame energy. Meanwhile, the DMV Trilogy is led by Stephen Jackson, and Howard's LA Riot will be under the guidance of Nick Young.
Howard's debut with the Riot is scheduled for August 9 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. For fans, it's a rare chance to see "Superman" flex in a 3-on-3 environment where his versatility could finally be unleashed. "The BIG3 lets guys play freely," Cube said. "And Dwight still has gas in the tank. He's gonna have fun out there."
With co-captains Jordan Crawford and Elijah Stewart, the LA Riot looks stacked. Howard himself is fresh off a Hall of Fame nod and ready to bring showtime back to LA. "It feels right," he said. "I've still got love for this game."
Ice Cube isn't stopping at home turf, either. The BIG3 has already played international games in London and the Bahamas, and a partnership with Australia's NBL is taking shape. Toronto and Mexico City are next on the wishlist.
Jeff Teague, now a BIG3 vet, said it best on the Club 520 Podcast: "I just wanna know if Dwight's gonna play serious or be out there shooting step-backs." Either way, Ice Cube is betting that this version of the BIG3-rooted in cities, powered by personalities-has a lot more to offer than nostalgia.
And this summer might be the moment the rest of the basketball world finally catches up.