All-Star Game
After arguably the most competitive season in the BIG3, certain players across the league were being rewarded for their phenomenal seasons Sunday in Orlando.
But while plenty of fans came out to support the league for the final weekend of the season, there was one player in particular they had their eyes on – especially Magic fans.
Dwight Howard returned home where his professional career started and did not disappoint as he won All-Star game MVP and helped Team 3 to a 51-41 victory over Team Big in the 2025 BIG3 All-Star game.
Howard posted 23 points and 12 rebounds to take home the honors. Not to mention, he looked like the Superman Orlando fans remembered as he dunked down just about every basket he had.
That trend started early out the gates when Howard’s first touch of the game came on a lob from Detroit Amps captain Jeremy Pargo. However, it was Team 3 who had things going early.
Despite more 4-pointers and flashy passes being displayed than usual, both teams found trouble getting the ball to go through early. Dallas Power’s Greg Monroe finally got one to go from behind the arc though with his first 3-pointer of the season in the first half. Alongside Los Angeles Riot’s Jordan Crawford, Team 3 went into the break up nine as Team Big struggled to get shots to fall.
However, the script flipped in the second half.
Howard kept rocking the rim with easy baskets right out of the break while Pargo followed that up with back-to-back 4-pointers. That extended a 14-2 run that bled over from the first half to give Team 3 their first lead of the game. Pargo had 12 points off three 4-pointers in the game.
It was basically all Team Big from there.
With Team Big leading 42-41 late, Howard pinned Deshawn Stephens’ layup attempt and followed it up with another dunk. That was that catalyst for a 9-2 run that was eventually closed out by a Corey Brewer put back.
Team Big outscored Team 3 35-16 in the second half despite not making a single 3-pointer in the game.
Safe to say for Howard and Team Big, it was a successful trip and a solid way to end their BIG3 season.
Championship Game: MIA/CHI
A year ago, many of the Miami 305 personnel suffered a heart-breaking loss in the BIG3 championship. Sunday was a different story.
Miami rallied late to claim the 2025 BIG3 championship after they took down the Chicago Triplets 52-48 on a Mario Chalmers’ game-winning 3-pointer from the corner.
Michael Beasley took home another piece of hardware winning Finals MVP after he put up 25 points and 12 rebounds. On the other end, Lance Stephenson had 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
It was a championship game for the ages though as both teams came in locked in more than ever.
After Beasley opened up the scoring, the Triplets got on the board after five straight points from his former teammate Nasir Core.
Each team traded baskets for a majority of the first half though. Beasley’s and-1 gave the 305 a one possession lead before Montrezl Harrell tied it with an and-1 of his own.
Stephenson provided instant offense for Miami after he checked in but so did Chris Allen for the Chicago side.
The game finally found some separation though towards the end of the first half. With the game tied at 19, the 305 got it done on both ends.
Beasley’s reverse layup plus the foul was followed up by a jaw-dropping block from Defensive Player of the Year Sean Williams that led to another and-1 – this time by Stephenson to send it to the break.
Beasley and Stephenson combined for 21 of the 25 points. Meanwhile, Harrell had just three points at halftime.
And for Miami, that run continued in the second half.
The 305 stretched the lead to double-digits as their 6-0 run turned into a 14-2 run early in the second half. Stephenson’s spin move into a layup made it 31-21 and it was all Miami for a moment.
But here came the Triplets.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Core and Harrell immediately cut the lead back down to just four.
The momentum shifted towards Chicago though as they trailed 41-35 late.
Brandon Moss caught a lob to bring it back to a four-point game before Chris Allen’s triple from the top of the key made it a one-point game. They finally took their first lead after a Harrell bucket.
Ultimately it was an 11-2 run for the Triplets as they hit the game point mark.
Then the onus was back on Miami – and they delivered.
The 305 scored four straight points to regain the lead after Core missed on the game-winning 4-pointer against his former team. Harrell shortly gave Chicago the lead back for a moment with a monster block that led to an easy deuce for Amir Johnson.
Yet, Miami found a way as they got another basket from the MVP before Chalmers ended with a bang.
The 305 became the first franchise in BIG3 history to win a championship as a city affiliated, ownership led team. Individually, Michael Cooper and Mario Chalmers added to their historic resumes with Cooper previously winning a WNBA and D-League title as a coach while the Kansas alum has now won at the high school, NCAA, NBA, and BIG3 level.
For the Triplets, Harrell had a game-high 16 points. Core finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists while Moss put up eight points and three blocks in the season finale to cap off an outstanding season in their own right.
At the end of the day though, Miami is once again a city of champions.
