The BIG3’s ninth season barely got underway before drama erupted on the court. The game started as a typical physical contest. But the matter escalated, and Miami 305 vs LA Riot (what a coincidence) quickly turned into a heated altercation Saturday night. We’re talking hoop legends here, including Dwight Howard, Michael Beasley, and another player, all getting ejected. But the fights had more major consequences…

The officials had no choice but to call it quits! Unlike NBA teams with ‌deep rosters, a minor issue could leave a BIG3 team shorthanded. Two ejections left the defending champs, Miami 305 severely unmanned with only two active players remaining. And the referees had no choice but to forfeit the game to the Riot, who led 39-30. In a statement posted after the game, the BIG3 confirmed the decision.

“Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley both ejected. Miami 305 down to two active players. Game over by forfeit. LA wins 39-30”

But what exactly happened?

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The trouble began during a second-half rebound battle involving Howard and his former Houston Rockets teammate Michael Beasley, who had a well-documented history of taunting the big man in prior BIG3 matchups.

With the LA Riot up 8 points (33-25), led by Howard, the two vets entangled under the basket, quickly escalating into a scuffle after Superman appeared to glide his elbow across Beasley’s face in the sequence.

Beasley, a vocal agitator, and Howard’s physical response cleared benches before cooler heads (temporarily) prevailed. Anyhow, it was enough for the refs to chuck the two out of the game, assessed with technical fouls.

However, the drama did not end there.

Moments later, another altercation broke out involving former Indiana Pacers veteran Lance Stephenson and former Washington Wizards veteran Jordan Crawford. But this time, the situation quickly spiraled out of control, with Stephenson throwing punches at players who flooded in from both sides.

Expectedly, the officials ejected Stephenson from the game. Later, the league officially announced it. The forfeit stemmed from the BIG3’s roster rules.

Each of the eight teams carries five players, with three players on the court at a time. The Miami 305 could have continued despite two ejections, but veteran forward Reggie Evans missed the season opener with a foot injury.

Thus, the defending champs had only two players left and couldn’t complete their race to 50 points. And officials had to end the contest at Intuit Dome and hand out the victory to the LA Riot based on the lead.

Just last week, BIG3 cofounder Ice Cube mentioned that he was hoping his 3v3 league could “feed off the frenzy” from the New York Knicks-San Antonio Spurs Finals. The world-renowned hip-hop star called his venture a “complementary league,” comparing it to the NFL, where “every game counts.”

Well, we don’t know about the fans, but two teams will be hoping not to hear any further official statement from the league. That’s because there is history attached to the former NBA players who were tossed from BIG3’s ninth-season opening week.

Will the BIG3 hand out suspensions to Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson?

Ejections don’t really put a full stop to this issue. With the altercations forcing the league to forfeit the opening-night game, the BIG3 may have to make tough decisions… Potential suspensions to Dwight Howard, Lance Stephenson, and Michael Beasley.

Any additional punishment would carry significant consequences for the Miami 305. The team has already entered the season’s opening week without Reggie Evans. If the league decides to sideline Stephenson and Beasley, the team would find itself shorthanded again for the week 2 match-up against the Detroit Amps.

Notably, history offers an interesting reference.

During the 2025 season opener, Howard and Stephenson were involved in a physical altercation that extended to the stands. Well, yeah, déjà vu. Both players received ejections, but the league hesitated to issue suspensions.

According to senior insider Chris Haynes, BIG3 officials showed leniency because both veterans were navigating their first season in the league and adjusting to its physical style of play.

This time, however, league officials may view it differently. The latest incident arrived almost exactly one year later, involving the same names. Whether the league decides to punish the Miami 305 or not, it could affect the team’s early-season outlook.

The league’s history shows it won’t play favorites- even legends like Allen Iverson faced a one-game suspension in 2017 for an unexcused absence. Howard’s Hall of Fame pedigree offers no immunity here.

Although the circumstances differ in the two incidents, a league’s integrity is at stake here.