The ink is barely dry on Dwight Howard's Hall of Fame election papers, but the eight-time NBA All-Star is already plotting his next basketball move. Howard has signed with the BIG3, the 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by Ice Cube, where he'll suit up for the Los Angeles Riot under former Laker Nick Young's coaching. Yes, that Nick Young.

Howard becomes the latest basketball icon to join the Black-owned league that's quietly revolutionizing how professional sports leagues operate. Unlike the NBA, NFL, or MLB, where billionaire owners pocket most profits, the BIG3 operates with no team owners at all.

What makes the BIG3 truly different is its financial structure that allocates 52 percent of league revenue directly to the players, with championship teams earning significantly larger portions than those who finish lower in the standings.

This player-first approach has helped the league attract an impressive roster of basketball royalty throughout its seven-year history. Hall of Famers including Allen Iverson, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Gary Payton, George Gervin, Michael Cooper, Rick Barry, and Clyde Drexler have all played significant roles. The league has also been progressive in leadership positions, with Hall of Famers Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie both winning Coach of the Year honors.

Growth Mode Activated

Now entering its eighth season, the BIG3 has shown staying power in a landscape where alternative leagues often struggle. Average attendance has jumped from 11,000 to 14,000 fans per game, and CBS Sports broadcasts games nationally.

The league's most significant evolution comes this season with a shift to a city-based model. Eight teams will now represent major markets: 

• Boston Ball Hogs (coached by Hall of Famer Gary Payton)
• Chicago Triplets (coach not yet announced)
• Dallas Power (coached by Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman)
• Detroit Amplifiers (coached by Hall of Famer George Gervin)
• Houston Rig Hands (coached by Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy)
• Los Angeles Riot (coached by former NBA player Nick Young)
• Miami 305 (coached by Michael Cooper)
• DMV Trilogy (representing the Washington D.C. metro area, coached by Stephen Jackson)

"Transitioning to a full city-based model is another marker of our continued exponential growth," said Ice Cube, who has ambitious plans to add four more expansion teams in 2026.

For players like Howard, the appeal goes beyond just staying on the court. The league's 3-on-3 half-court format allows aging stars to showcase skills that might have been underutilized in the NBA.

"We all know that Dwight Howard can do more on the basketball court than he was able to show in the NBA," Ice Cube noted. "It's going to be nice to see him open up his game and show his all-around skills in the BIG3."

The BIG3's eighth season tips off on June 14, giving fans another chance to see Howard soar before he officially enters the Hall of Fame later this year.