League
“There’s always a vibe here,” Miami 305 headline BIG3 takeover in South Florida
By Ava DiCecca - South Florida Sun Sentinel July 5, 2026
Amerant Bank Arena retired the ice for hardwood Sunday afternoon, playing host to BIG3, the premier global 3-on-3 basketball league.
Headlining Week 3 action, the defending champion Miami 305 — coached by five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper — returned home to South Florida to take on the Chicago Triplets, who had yet to be taken down in the first two weeks of action.
“There’s always a vibe here,” producer, actor and musician Ice Cube said about taking the league to Miami. “You get that aesthetic…nobody ever complains about coming to Miami.”
Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz founded the league in 2017 with a focus on players and providing a fast-paced, entertaining environment for its soon-to-be widespread fanbase. In eight weeks of competition across the nation, eight teams compete in hopes of becoming the next BIG3 champion.
The innovation of the league comes not just from its non-typical 3-on-3, half-court nature, but from the style of the game. Aside from 2- and 3-point options, circles on the court behind the 3-point line allow players to score 4 points with a made shot, so long as they have one foot touching it. The game is played first-to-50, win-by-two style with a 14-second shot clock, and they “bring the fire” with occasional one-on-one action to challenge a foul call to ensure constant excitement and an upbeat atmosphere.
Furthermore, each team has elite players and coaches, including Hall of Famers and iconic names. On Sunday, as usual, four separate games tipped off.
To kick off the action, the undefeated Dallas Power faced the Detroit Amps, who were seeking their first win of the year. The Power, coached by Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, dominated to start. Led by former G League player Elijah Stewart, who entered the afternoon pacing BIG3 in total points (41), steals (6), 3-pointers (7) and 4-pointers (1), Dallas got out to a convincing 16-6 start. Stewart, the USC alum, splashed a 3-pointer to seal a 25-9 advantage at the half, and followed it up with an and-one out of the break, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Detroit.