Though Dwight Howard was inducted into the Magic Corridor of Fame this spring, and he’ll enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in September, his enjoying days aren’t fully behind him.
Howard is hoping to finish his profession on a excessive notice this summer season when he competes within the Big3, a 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by rapper and actor Ice Dice in 2017 that options former NBA gamers.
And Orlando followers will get the possibility to look at Howard one final time when he fits up for the Los Angeles Riot beneath coach Nick Younger, who spent 12 years within the NBA.
That’s as a result of the Big3’s championship weekend — which is able to embrace the title sport and All-Star sport — shall be held on the campus of UCF at Addition Monetary Area on August 24, the Sentinel realized Friday.
“It’s solely proper for us to have our championship in Orlando,” Dice informed the Sentinel on the cellphone. “Possibly he’ll make to the championship sport however we’re fairly certain he’ll be an All-Star on this league. So, presumably Dwight Howard’s final sport could possibly be performed in Orlando.
“I simply assume that’s fairly poetic,” added Dice, who pointed to Howard’s star energy as an enormous draw.
However Howard received’t the one massive identify on the court docket.
Former NBA gamers reminiscent of Kemba Walker, Jason Richardson, Joe Johnson, Lance Stephenson, Mario Chalmers, Montrezl Harrell, Michael Beasley and Gerald Inexperienced will take part within the league’s eighth season.
This yr would be the first the Big3 is transitioning to a city-based mannequin, with eight all-new franchises debuting this summer season: Boston Ball Hogs, Chicago Triplets, Dallas Energy, Detroit Amplifiers, DMV Trilogy, Houston Rig Arms, Miami 305, and the LA Riot.
Whereas Orlando received’t have a house membership, it will get the subsequent neatest thing in internet hosting the championship weekend.
“We checked out it as a fantastic reward for groups making the championship sport and gamers making the All-Star sport, too,” Dice mentioned. “We’ve been to different locations from the Bahamas to London, and what we’ve observed is that groups that make it at all times wish to deliver their households to see them play within the championship sport. We felt like Orlando is a good place for gamers to have the ability to try this.”
The common season suggestions off June 14 at Allstate Area in Chicago on CBS and VICE TV.
The groups is not going to solely be competing for the title, but in addition a $1 million bonus, which awarded to the golf equipment that make it to the championship sport.
For Dice, it’s a dream come true the league is coming into its eighth season.
“I’ve at all times needed to be concerned in massive time sports activities,” he mentioned. “Not only a minority proprietor of a workforce, however actually concerned with what the followers see, the construction of the sport … Being concerned in that stage as a basketball fan, I’ve been in heaven relating to getting my fingers soiled with the nuts and bolts of this league.”
Not solely does the league function 3-on-3 basketball however the model of play is fast-paced and bodily in a half-court setting that enables hand checking on protection.
There’s additionally the 4-point shot, along with the normal 2s and 3-pointers.
In accordance with Dice, the Big3 is a breath of recent air for basketball followers.
“When you see it in particular person, you’re hooked,” he mentioned. “What you’re going to like in regards to the Huge 3 is that it’s basketball performed the appropriate means … 3-on-3 is completely different sort of basketball as a result of it’s mano a mano. There’s not plenty of assist coming. You’ve obtained to D up otherwise you’re going to get embarrassed.
“So, it’s a special model but it surely’s a enjoyable model.”
Jason Beede might be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
