BIG3 Season 8 Tips Off With Star-Studded Matchups: All The Details

The BIG3 is back and bigger than ever. Season eight of the innovative 3-on-3 basketball league tips off Saturday, June 14th, 2025, at Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, and fans can catch the fast-paced action live on iHeartRadio, CBS and VICE TV.

This year marks a major shift for the league as it transitions to a city-based model. Eight new franchises will debut this summer: the Boston Ball Hogs, Chicago Triplets, Dallas Power, Detroit Amplifiers, DMV Trilogy, Houston Rig Hands, Miami 305, and the LA Riot. The full season schedule is available now, and tickets are on sale at big3.com/tickets.

BIG3 has also made major roster moves ahead of opening weekend, signing basketball heavyweights like first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Dwight Howard, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, veteran Lance Stephenson, and former fourth overall NBA Draft pick Wesley Johnson.

Check out all the details of opening day below and catch the tipoff on Saturday, June 14th on the free iHeartRadio app via the BIG3 Live on iHeartRadio station.

Opening Day: Four Games, One Epic Tip-Off

3 PM ET – Pregame Show

The action kicks off with a pregame show setting the stage for an electric opening day of four high-stakes matchups featuring legends, rising stars, and fierce rivalries.

4 PM ET – LA Riot vs. Miami 305

The season opener is loaded with drama. Miami 305 enters the league led by 2025 BIG3 MVP Michael Beasley, alongside Reggie Evans and Mario Chalmers. The squad looks for redemption after a controversial title loss last season as members of 3’s Company.

But tension is already brewing in South Beach. Beasley is reportedly unhappy with the team's decision to draft Lance Stephenson first overall—just weeks after defeating him in a $100,000 one-on-one matchup. With no trade in sight, the question looms: Can Beasley and Stephenson set aside their beef?

Across the court, the LA Riot are stacked with championship pedigree. Coach Nick Young reunites with 2023 BIG3 champions Jordan Crawford, Elijah Stewart, and himself. Adding Dwight Howard, Wesley Johnson, and Chris McCullough to the mix makes LA a serious title contender. Howard will be tested early against Evans in a battle of bigs.

And with Young talking plenty of trash ahead of his coaching face-off with old-school Lakers legend Michael Cooper, this opener promises fireworks.

5 PM ET – Detroit Amplifiers vs. Chicago Triplets

In a Midwest showdown, the all-new Chicago Triplets debut at home under the leadership of Hall-of-Famer Dr. J. They’ll face off against the Detroit Amplifiers, led by another basketball legend, George “Iceman” Gervin.

Chicago’s squad includes former Piston and two-time BIG3 champ Amir Johnson and Michigan alum Chris Allen. Detroit brings serious firepower with three-time BIG3 MVP Joe Johnson returning as captain and hometown hero Jeremy Pargo leading the charge on enemy turf.

6:30 PM ET – Houston Rig Hands vs. DMV Trilogy

The Houston Rig Hands, coached by Rockets icon Calvin Murphy, will clash with the DMV Trilogy, led by three-time BIG3 Champion coach Stephen Jackson.

Houston features a reunion of 2024 champs Garlon Green, Corey Brewer, and Jaylen Johnson. But injuries forced late additions like BIG3 vet Jeff Ayres and overlooked draftee Nasir Core.

The DMV team returns BIG3 scoring record-holder Isaiah Briscoe and former champion Isaiah Austin, joined by Franklin “Nitty” Session, DaJuan Summers, and Earl Clark. Can Murphy's rookie coaching chops hold up against Jackson’s proven pedigree?

7:30 PM ET – Boston Ball Hogs vs. Dallas Power

The final game of the day sees Gary Payton’s Boston Ball Hogs take on Nancy Lieberman’s Dallas Power. Payton, fresh off a championship with Bivouac, is chasing back-to-back titles with a new roster that includes 4-point sniper Kevin Murphy, shot-blocking leader Chris Johnson, and Deshawn Stephens—who’ll face his former team in this matchup.

Lieberman, the first woman to coach a men’s professional basketball team and a former BIG3 champ, brings a dynamic mix of talent. Her team features NBA vet Greg Monroe, Glen Rice Jr., the Milsap brothers (Paul and John), and her own son, TJ Cline.

Full Rosters

Miami 305: Coach Michael Cooper; Lance Stephenson, Sean Williams, Reggie Evans*, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers*

LA Riot: Coach Nick Young**; Wesley Johnson, Elijah Stewart**, Jordan Crawford*, Dwight Howard*

Houston Rig Hands: Coach Calvin Murphy; Jaylen Johnson, Garlon Green**, Brandon Moss, Corey Brewer*, Jeff Ayres

DMV Trilogy: Coach Stephen Jackson; Franklin Session**, Dajuan Summers, Isaiah Austin*, Isaiah Briscoe**, Earl Clark

Detroit Amplifiers: Coach George Gervin; Shakur Juiston, Ray Nixon*, Joe Johnson, Darnell Jackson*, Jeremy Pargo**

Dallas Power: Coach Nancy Lieberman**; TJ Cline, John Milsap, Paul Milsap, Glen Rice Jr., Greg Monroe

Chicago Triplets: Coach Dr. J; Amir Johnson, Chris Allen*, Jason Richardson*, Nasir Core, Montrezl Harrell**

Boston Ball Hogs: Coach Gary Payton**; Chris Johnson, Jonathan Simmons, Rashard Smith, Deshawn Stephens*, Kevin Murphy*

* = Co-Captain | ** = Captain

Talking Points:

• BIG3 season eight tips-off June 14, 2025, in Chicago, IL, at Allstate Arena and live on CBS, iHeart Radio, and VICE TV. Tickets are available NOW at big3.com/tickets 
• For the first time this season, BIG3 is transitioning to a city-based model, with eight all-new franchises debuting this summer: Boston Ball Hogs, Chicago Triplets, Dallas Power, Detroit Amplifiers, DMV Trilogy, Houston Rig Hands, Miami 305, and the LA Riot. The full Season 8 schedule is available HERE.
• The league has made several key signings including First-Ballot Hall-of-Famer Dwight Howard, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, NBA Veteran Lance Stephenson, and 2010 fourth overall pick Wes Johnson
• Fans can expect four 50 minute, fast-paced and competitive 3-on-3 basketball games, halftime performances from top musical artists (maybe Cube himself!) and legends like Dwight Howard, Dr. J, Nancy Lieberman, Nick Young, George Gervin, and other hall-of-fame caliber talent playing and coaching the game like its meant to be played 

 

Matchups: 

3pm ET: Pregame show

4pm ET: LA vs MIA - CBS 

• BIG3 season eight tips off with BIG3 2025 MVP Michael Beasley leading his reunited teammates Reggie Evans and Mario Chalmers as part of the all-new Miami 305 BIG3 expansion team. As part of 3’s Company last year, Beasley, Evans, and Chalmers fell short of the 2025 title in a controversial play 
• Miami 305 has already had its share of controversy – word on the street is that Co-Captain and MVP Beasley is not happy about the 305 drafting BIG3 rookie Lance Stephenson 1st overall. Beasley just cooked Stephenson in a 1-v-1 for $100,000 before the season even starts. Rumor is Miami will not entertain any trade requests. Can Stephenson and Beasley bury the beef? 
• Miami will be going up against the all-new LA Riot, an undoubtedly stacked team that will see 2023 Champion Enemies Nick Young, Jordan Crawford, and Elijah Stewart reunited and facing players that sent them home from the playoffs last year (Beasley/Evans/Chalmers) 
• BIG3 rookie Dwight Howard will need to figure out how to deal with longtime BIG3 bigman Reggie Evans 
• Beasley isn’t the only one who has had a lot to say, Riot Coach Nick Young already is talking trash about this matchup. New-school coach Young will face off with his fellow Laker legend the old-school Michael Cooper
• Miami won’t have an easy time putting them down though, because LA has added NBA Champion and First Ballot Hall-of-Famer Dwight Howard, and 2010 NBA fourth overall pick Wesley Johnson, and Chris McCullough

 

5pm ET: DET vs CHI - CBS

• The all-new Chicago Triplets will be making their hometown debut in the Battle of the Midwest against the Detroit Amplifiers– with two legendary Hall-of-Fame coaches going at it: Dr. J leading Chicago and Iceman George Gervin leading Detroit
• 3-time BIG3 MVP Iso Joe Johnson returns to the league as captain of the Amps
• Former Piston and two-time back-to-back BIG3 Champion Amir Johnson will be making his return to the Motor City with the Triplets, alongside Michigan Alum Chris Allen 
• The Amps will be repping their city even on the road, led by EMU Alumni George Gervin and Captained by hometown hero Jeremy Pargo, who will have to put his Windy City allegiances aside to bring the W home for Detroit

 

6:30pm ET: HOU vs DMV - VICE

• The Houston Rig Hands will face off against the DMV Trilogy in the third matchup of the day
• The Rig Hands are reuniting some key members of 2024 BIG3 Championship team: Garlon Green, Corey Brewer, Jaylen Johnson. However, hard struck by injuries in the offseason, the team has now added BIG3 veteran Jeff Ayres and Nasir Core, who many felt was totally overlooked in the draft
• The Rig Hands are the only team with a Rookie Coach – Rockets Legend Calvin Murphy. Does he have what it takes to go up against 3x BIG3 Champion DMV Coach Stephen Jackson? 
• Jackson’s DMV team will be led by Earl Clark and Isaiah Briscoe, who have both played under Jackson as members of Trilogy in past seasons. Briscoe shattered the BIG3 scoring record last year, putting up 37 of the team’s total of 50 points in a single game. 
• Former projected first round NBA draft pick Isaiah Austin is coming out of retirement for one more BIG3 season, his first under a new coach. Austin won the 2023 BIG3 Championship as part of Enemies
• The DMV Trilogy is rounded out with Franklin (Nitty) Session and DaJuan Summers, both BIG3 veterans and previous co-captains in season 7

 

7:30pm ET: BOS vs DAL - VICE

• The Boston Ball Hogs will take on the Dallas Power in the final matchup of the BIG3’s season eight tip off
• Head Coach Gary Payton is searching for a consecutive BIG3 championship (after winning last season as coach of Bivouac) with an entirely new team. Leading the Ball Hogs will be BIG3 record-holding 4pt shooter Kevin Murphy, NBA veteran Scotty Hopson, BIG3 blocking leader the 6’ 11’ Chris Johnson, BIG3 veteran Jonathan Simmons, and Deshawn Stephens, who will be facing off against his former coach and teammates in the Dallas Power
• The Dallas Power couldn’t have any other coach than the legendary Nancy Lieberman. Lieberman made a splash when she became the first ever female professional head coach of men when she joined the league in 2018. Not only did she make a statement, but she won a Championship that same year. Is this the team that she can take back to the finals? 
• Glen Rice Jr. and TJ Cline are no stranger to playing under coach Lieberman – TJ has being doing it his entire life as Nancy is his mother
• Lieberman rounds out her team with NBA veteran Greg Monroe and the brothers Milsap: 16-year NBA veteran Paul and his brother John

 

 

Rosters: 

MIAMI 305

Michael Cooper

Lance Stephenson

Sean Williams

Reggie Evans*

Michael Beasley

Mario Chalmers*

 

LA RIOT

Nick Young**

Wesley Johnson

Elijah Stewart**

Jordan Crawford*

Dwight Howard*

 

HOUSTON RIG HANDS 

Calvin Murphy

Jaylen Johnson

Garlon Green**

Brandon Moss

Corey Brewer*

Jeff Ayres

 

DMV TRILOGY 

Stephen Jackson

Franklin Session**

Dajuan Summers 

Isaiah Austin*

Isaiah Briscoe**

Earl Clark

 

DETROIT AMPLIFIERS

George Gervin

Shakur Juiston

Ray Nixon*

Joe Johnson

Darnell Jackson*

Jeremy Pargo**

 

DALLAS POWER

Nancy Lieberman**

TJ Cline

John Millsap

Paul Millsap

Glen Rice Jr.

Greg Monroe

 

CHICAGO TRIPLETS

Dr J

Amir Johnson

Chris Allen*

Jason Richardson*

Nasir Core

Montrezl Harrell**

 

BOSTON BALLHOGS

Gary Payton**

Chris Johnson

Jonathon Simmons

Rashard Smith

Deshawn Stephens*

Kevin Murphy*