BIG3 Delivers Big Personalities, Bruising Basketball and Plenty of Summer Fun in South Florida.

July 5th, 2026

If you wandered into Amerant Bank Arena expecting a leisurely afternoon of half court basketball, the BIG3 had a different agenda.

This wasn’t a nostalgia tour disguised as a basketball league. It was four games packed with former NBA stars still playing with something to prove, comeback attempts that had fans leaning forward in their seats and enough physical play to make everyone wonder if the officials had accidentally left their whistles in the locker room.

That old school feel became one of the day’s defining themes.

Hand checking was common. Bodies collided in the lane. Players repeatedly looked toward the officials after absorbing contact, only to realize play wasn’t stopping. It wasn’t one sided. It was simply how the games were called, forcing players to adjust and battle through it.

Amir Johnson said that adjustment is one of the biggest challenges of the BIG3 style.

“It’s kind of old school NBA,” Johnson said. “Holding and grabbing are pretty much allowed. You gotta be strong with the ball. You gotta go up strong. You can’t look for those SGA fouls.”

Fortunately, there wasn’t much time to dwell on the officiating.

During breaks, high flying acrobatic dunkers launched themselves off trampolines, soaring toward the rim for gravity defying slams that had fans reaching for their phones almost as quickly as they reached for T-shirts and other prizes tossed into the crowd. Florida rapper Ace Hood added another burst of energy with a live performance, while BIG3 founder Ice Cube sat courtside throughout the afternoon, looking less like a celebrity appearance and more like a proud father watching his basketball creation continue to grow.

Ice Cube addresses the BIG3 crowd @ Amerant Bank Arena. ©South Florida Insider

Then came the basketball.

Dallas Power Survives Detroit’s Furious Rally

Dallas Power looked poised to coast through the opening game.

T.J. Cline caught fire early, knocking down timely shots from all over the floor, while Greg Monroe quietly controlled the paint with the steady presence that has defined his professional career. Dallas built a comfortable lead and appeared well on its way to an uneventful victory.

Then Detroit decided the script needed a rewrite.

Nasir Core nearly willed the Amps all the way back by himself. His isolation heavy style felt almost tailor made for the BIG3, repeatedly creating offense one on one and turning what looked like a runaway into one of the day’s most entertaining finishes. Suddenly, the crowd had plenty to cheer about as Detroit chipped away possession after possession before ultimately falling just short.

Monroe admitted afterward that Dallas relaxed after building its early advantage.

“We started off well following our game plan and were able to build a big lead. After that we kind of relaxed and let them back in the game, but we were able to finish the game and get the dub.”

While plenty of fans voiced frustrations with the officiating, Monroe wasn’t interested in pointing fingers.

“They out here doing their job just like we are. We’re not blaming anything on them.”

Veterans Still Know How to Close

If the opener belonged to comeback drama, Game Two belonged to veterans reminding everyone they can still take over a basketball game.

Dwight Howard remains one of the league’s biggest attractions, and it didn’t take long to understand why. Every touch drew a reaction from the crowd as the former NBA superstar continued to finish around the basket, control rebounds and flash the athleticism that made him one of basketball’s most recognizable big men.

Asked how he prepared mentally for the game, Howard kept it wonderfully simple.

“Just got there having a good time, man. That’s all. Having fun.”

As for whether fans might see another NBA comeback, Howard smiled.

“My kids need me and my family. I done did my part in the NBA. Hall of Fame.”

While Howard generated plenty of excitement, Jeremy Pargo owned winning time.

Boston struggled through stretches of the opening half before Pargo settled the offense and delivered when the Ball Hogs needed him most. His late shot making and veteran poise helped close the door on LA Riot.

Pargo wasn’t interested in celebrating his own performance, instead pointing to Boston’s collective turnaround after halftime.

“We had a sloppy first half, more so me than anyone. Some turnovers, missed open shots, and fortunately we were able to turn it around in the second half.”

Even after the victory, he wasn’t looking beyond the next stop on the schedule.

“Thinking that far will get you in trouble. We’re going week by week.”

His coach, Hall of Famer Gary Payton, offered a far more colorful explanation for Boston’s turnaround.

Gary Payton gets after ref during the BIG3 @ Amerant Bank Arena. ©South Florida Insider

“Getting in their ass,” Payton laughed before explaining that his team stopped settling for jump shots, attacked the basket and regained control once Jeremy Pargo knocked down several timely three pointers.

More Than Just Basketball

The afternoon wasn’t just about the players on the floor.

Former Miami Heat great Glen Rice watched proudly as his son battled through a minor injury before delivering one of the day’s biggest shots.

“He had a little mild injury during the course of the game, and to still have the strength and concentration to go out there and make it happen, that’s just big time. Hell of a shot.”

Meanwhile, Trilogy coach Stephen Jackson summed up basketball strategy in perhaps the simplest way possible before his team took the court.

“Just win, bro. It’s simple.”

That straightforward mindset feels like the perfect description of the BIG3 itself.

The league isn’t trying to recreate the NBA. It isn’t chasing longer games or bigger arenas. Instead, it has embraced what makes it unique: veteran players who still know how to manufacture a bucket, coaches with personalities just as memorable as their playing careers and fans who appreciate competition as much as nostalgia.

By the end of the afternoon, Amerant Bank Arena had become more than just another stop on the schedule. It felt like a summer basketball festival where every timeout brought another reason to look up, every game developed its own personality, and every former NBA star reminded fans that competitive fire doesn’t disappear when a career changes directions.

Half-court basketball? There’s nothing “half” about the entertainment.

The BIG3 returns to Amerant Bank Center on Friday, July 31 with a doubleheader starting at 8 PM.