Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson Engage in Intense Altercation during The Big 3 Competition
Livin' the BIG3 Dream Turns Sour:
Things got real messy, real quick, at the launch of BIG3 season! Old NBA pals Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson, playing for the Los Angeles Riot and Miami 305, respectively, turned a friendly matchup into a chaotic brawl! It all went south when Stephenson struck Howard with a hard elbow to the chest, and the situation swiftly spun out of control!
The drama began in the heat of the game, but it didn't stay there long. Fists started flying and chaos erupted, not just on the court, but even in the media zone behind the basket! Can you believe how insane this turned?
Tensions had been building before the fight, with a prior altercation involving Stephenson and Jordan Crawford. somehow, despite the craziness, stephenson's team won the game by a narrow margin of 50-44. Both Howard and Stephenson, however, made an early exit from the game before the final whistle blew.
Despite the intense fisticuffs, the BIG3 league decided against suspending either player. Instead, both received warnings for adjusting to the league's physical play style, especially considering they were newcomers. And though this was their first time in the revolutionary BIG3 league, both Howard and Stephenson boasted a combined 31 seasons of NBA experience before their stint in BIG3 in 2025.
Dwight Howard, eight-time NBA All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and soon-to-be Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, found himself in the middle of this debacle. Lance Stephenson, a seasoned vet with 10 years under his belt in the NBA, was also there, taking to social media after the game to label Howard as "out of control." Haven't seen them in NBA since 2022, but both these legends are looking to make their mark again in the BIG3 league.
In a nutshell:- Stephenson's elbow to Howard sparked the brawl, escalating to on-court punches and spilling off-court to the media area.- Both got warned but avoided suspensions, as they were rookies adapting to the BIG3's rough-and-tumble style.- The fight showcased the intense nature of BIG3 ball, despite Howard and Stephenson being new to the scene.- The whole incident took place on June 14, 2025, during the BIG3 opener[1][2][3][4]. Tune in for more BIG3 battles; who knows what other surprises are waiting around the corner!
The chaotic brawl that occurred during the BIG3 opener in 2025 was ignited by a hard elbow from Lance Stephenson to Dwight Howard, both of whom have extensive NBA experience. Despite the intense fight, neither player was suspended, instead receiving warnings as they adapted to the physical play style of the BIG3 league.
