Ball Hogs.

The Ball Hogs have been around since the beginning of the BIG3 in 2017. They’ve yet to make it to the postseason in all that time. In 2021, they had yet another disappointing campaign, ending the season with a 3-5 record. In 2022, fortune again failed to smile upon the Ball Hogs.

Leandro Barbosa emerged as an absolute force in 2021, and it looked like the Ball Hogs might be able to turn things around with him at the helm. Sadly, he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5 and the Ball Hogs were unable to recover. They finished the season with a league-worst 1-5 record, which really didn’t reflect how much talent was on the squad.

If Barbosa can come back in 2023 at anywhere near 100%, this really could be the year the Ball Hogs make it into the postseason. New Center Jeff Ayres is capable of controlling the paint on both ends of the floor, and swingman DaJuan Summers is one of the most well-rounded players in the league.

It was true last season and it’s true again this season: With Barbosa at the helm on the court and the extremely knowledgeable and legendarily passionate Rick Barry returning as head coach, this could definitely be the year the Ball Hogs break through.