BIG3 Basketball has Perfect Ingredients for NBA Hangover Elixir

The BIG3, entering just its third season, showed in Detroit and Indianapolis why the league has all the proper ingredients to satisfy the appetite of basketball fans in the summer.

The BIG3 displayed in its opening weekend that it will provide real basketball in addition to drama. If you don’t believe me, watch the BIG3 Week 1 highlights below.

As such, here are all the ingredients that the BIG3 possesses to make the perfect elixir for your summer basketball hangover. 

Star Power 

Star power. Every big basketball operation needs their stars, and the BIG3 has just that. Joe Johnson is balling like in his heyday, putting up 27 points and 16 rebounds in his first game. Same goes for Amar’e Stoudemire, who poured in 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Week 1. Other notables performances include, Rashard Lewis (18 points, 11 rebounds), Jason Richardson (17 points, 10 rebounds), Cuttino Mobley (28 points, 7 rebounds) and Reggie Evans (22 points, 23 rebounds). 

BIG3 Games are only played to 50-points, making these stat lines even more impressive considering there are far fewer possessions and less transition opportunities than an NBA game.

Week 1 was just a taste of star power, as Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis and Jermaine O’Neal plan to make a return to the court this season as well, adding to the already existing big names. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the players like Lamar Odom, Jason Terry, Josh Smith, Royce White, and Nate Robinson who are still looking to find their BIG3 rhythm after subpar Week 1 debuts. 

Young Playmakers

Everyone knows the big names in the BIG3, but there is a gaggle of youngsters and NBA hopefuls that will make waves through the BIG3 this summer. If you aren’t up to date with local Los Angeles basketball, then Franklin Session might be an unfamiliar name. He is a former three-time Drew League MVP and showed out in his BIG3 debut for the Killer 3’s doing it all with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. He also used his jaw-dropping athleticism to provide many highlight dribble moves and finishes at the basket. At just 30 years old, Session has a chance to set the BIG3 on fire with his talent.

Ghost Baller’s Mike Taylor, the first D-League player to be drafted into the NBA, poured in 15 points along with an electrifying showmanship off the court to get the crowd enagaged. At 33 years old, he is as funny off the court as he is talented on the court, making him a prime candidate to become a household BIG3 name. 

Enemies’ Perry Jones III is another young promising athlete. Remember, Jones was taken in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he played alongside the likes of NBA stars James Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. As a 6’11” wing, Jones provides freak athleticism and explosive ability around the basket.

Competitive Spirit

Players in the BIG3 are here to compete and win, not make friends. The competitive spirit was put front and center when Bivouac’s Josh Smith and Enemies’ Royce White got tangled up in an altercation just five minutes into Game 1. As seen below, both players received ejections for their altercation. While confrontations like this are not encouraged, they are a result of ultra-fierce competitors, something the BIG3 does not lack.

Leading Legends 

Everyone can see the talent and star power on the court, but let’s talk about the talent holding the clipboard. The league has seven basketball Hall of Famers coaching, including Gary Payton, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Rick Barry, Lisa Leslie, George Gervin, Nancy Lieberman and Julius “Dr. J” Erving. And five players who got as close as one could get during their playing career in Michael Cooper, Rick Mahorn, Kenyon Martin, Charles Oakley and Reggie Theus.

The players are getting top-notch coaching from people who excelled at the professional level and have altered the course of basketball history. While it is cool to see the likes of Dr J. walking around the stadium before a game, it is far more important that players in the BIG3 are receiving coaching tips from these legends. And that only makes the on-court product that much better for the BIG3 and its fans.

In the BIG3, the fans are put first. One ticket earns you the opportunity to watch three games.  At the stadium, souvenirs are being handed out to kids, MC’s are interacting with people in the stands, the entertainment and sports worlds collide with exclusive half-time shows, and the tickets are far-cheaper than any other major professional sports league in America. The BIG3 is truly fan first.