Drama erupted on the opening day of the 2025 BIG3 season when former NBA stars Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson were both ejected during a heated scuffle in their league debuts.
The clash took place during a dead-ball timeout in the matchup between LA Riot and Miami 305. Stephenson, playing for Miami, appeared to jab Howard in the chest. Howard responded by pushing Stephenson’s arm, triggering an explosive exchange that ended with both players tangled near the scorer’s table.
Officials immediately ejected both players for the altercation. This marked a rough start to their BIG3 careers, especially with both stars expected to draw major attention to the league.
Despite the chaos, Stephenson’s squad—Miami 305—secured a 50–44 win over Howard’s LA Riot.
Howard, a former NBA champion and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and Stephenson, long known for his fiery style, were supposed to headline the opening weekend. Instead, they made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
BIG3 commissioner Ice Cube has not yet released a statement regarding the incident, but disciplinary actions could follow.
This opening-weekend fight shows the passion in the BIG3 is real—but so are the consequences.
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