​Amerant Bank Arena retired the ice for hardwood on Sunday afternoon as it hosted the BIG3, the premier global 3-on-3 basketball league. Headlining Week 3 action, the defending champions, the Miami 305 — led by five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper — returned to South Florida to take on the Chicago Triplets, who had yet to be defeated in the first two weeks of play. “There’s always a vibe here,” Ice Cube, the league’s producer, actor and musician, said about bringing 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 to focus on players and provide a fast-paced, entertaining environment for its growing fanbase. Over eight weeks of competition nationwide, eight teams vie to become the next BIG3 champion.
The league’s innovation extends beyond its distinctive 3-on-3, half-court format to its unique style of play. In addition to 2- and 3-point attempts, players can score 4 points by knocking down a shot from behind a circular line on the court, provided one foot remains in contact with the circle. Games are played first-to-50, win-by-two, with a 14-second shot clock, and occasional one-on-one action is used to challenge foul calls and maintain a high-energy atmosphere.
Each team features elite players and coaches, including Hall of Famers and other iconic figures. On Sunday, four games tipped off as usual. The action began with the undefeated Dallas Power facing the Detroit Amps, who were seeking their first win of the year. Coached by Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, Dallas dominated early. Elijah Stewart, a former G League player who entered the afternoon leading BIG3 in total points (41), steals (6), 3-pointers (7) and 4-pointers (1), helped Dallas open with a 16-6 start. Stewart, a USC alumnus, knocked down a 3-pointer to push the halftime margin to 25-9, and followed with an and-one after the break, but Detroit still pulled away with a 48-47 lead after Nasir Core, Detroit’s co-captain, produced a 4-pointer, a 3-pointer and an and-one in a one-on-one sequence. Dallas held firm when it mattered most, sealing a 51-48 win on a late 2-pointer by co-captain Glen Rice Jr.
Next, the East and West Coast showdown took center stage as the LA Riot faced the Boston Ball Hogs, both entering the game at 1-1. After a tense start, Chris Allen gave the Riot a 17-12 edge—the largest lead of the game so far—before LA widened the gap to as many as 11 points. Boston quickly erased the deficit, answering with a string of 4-point shots, thrilling Ice Cube and elevating the excitement outcomes.