Top 10 former NBA players who thrived in the Big3 basketball league

More often than not, when an NBA player can no longer find a team in the league, the best route is to settle for an offer overseas or call it a career. However, the rise of 3-on-3 basketball paved the way for the emergence of the Big3 Basketball League, a professional league founded by musician Ice Cube and CEO Jeff Kwatinetz. The 3v3 league is full of former NBA veterans who are still showing that they can play at a high level. Check out the gallery to see 10 the best former NBA players who advanced in the Big3 basketball league.

Al Harrington

Al Harrington was a 16-year NBA veteran who started for several teams. His face-up game certainly came in handy in 3-on-3 situations, as he was even awarded the Too Hard to Guard Award in 2018. That year, Harrington averaged 18.0 points per game to lead the league in scoring. But to top it all off, he was part of the Trilogy team that brought home the championship the year before.

Will Bynum

Despite not being in the NBA, Will Bynum still had eight years in the league. He had stops with the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors. Although he never had the keys to showcase his offense at the NBA level, the 6-foot-0 guard was unleashed in the Big3 Basketball League. In fact, it even earned a 2019 Too Hard to Guard award.

James White

James White played only three years in the NBA, mostly as a reserve. He did, however, win the 2007 NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs. But while he was usually benched in the NBA, White was given permission to take off with Trilogy of the Big3 basketball league. White helped the team win two championships and was even named the Big3 Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

Sean Williams

It’s safe to say that Sean Williams didn’t live up to the hype of being a first-round NBA pick, as his career lasted just four seasons. However, he certainly didn’t look like a disappointment as he answered for the Miami 305. He relied on his elite rim protection, Williams was responsible for helping Miami to the fewest points in the league. He was also third in the league in rebounds.

Chris Andersen

Widely known as the Birdman, Chris Andersen had a colorful NBA career. Although known for his tattoos, Andersen was also a major presence on the perimeter. He even played an instrumental role in helping the Miami Heat win the 2013 NBA Championship, and his rim-protecting abilities easily translated into the 3-on-3 scene. Andersen totaled 13 career blocks, which the fourth highest in Big3 history. He also helped his team, the Power, win the 2018 championship while winning the Big3 Defensive Player of the Year award in the process.

Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy had a memorable NBA career, after playing just 17 games for the Utah Jazz. Without many opportunities in the league, he certainly fell out when he got them in the Big3 basketball league. In the 2022 season, Murphy scored an incredible 181 points, just one point shy of the record. As a result, he took home both the MVP and Too Hard to Guard awards in the same year.

Rashard Lewis

Rashard Lewis has enjoyed plenty of success even in the NBA. He is a two-time NBA All-Star who even won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2013. To make matters more interesting, Lewis certainly followed up his NBA success in the 3-on-3 league. The former NBA champion even took home MVP honors in 2017, to become the first MVP in the history of the big 3 basketball leagues. Shooting is a huge aspect of 3-on-3 basketball. As a result, it’s not surprising that Lewis has been successful.

Corey Maggette

Corey Maggette has had a long NBA career. However, the 14-year NBA vet was an average player at best. With the Power of the Big3 Basketball League, he was a beast, especially in the 2018 season. Meggett averaged 16.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per outing. With his production, the former lottery pick was named the 2018 MVP and helped his team win the championship that same year.

Praised for his entertaining isolation pieces, Joe Johnson is nicknamed Iso-Joe for a reason. After all, he scored 20,000 NBA points en route to seven All-Star appearances. As a result, it’s not surprising that he’s been successful in the Big3 basketball league, where isolation plays are more common. In fact, Johnson was voted the best player in the history of the Big3 basketball league. He is a one-off champion and two-time league MVP, tied for the most by any player.

The only other two-time MVP in Big3 basketball league history is Michael Beasley. With his professional basketball career seemingly at an end due to his off-court battles, Beasley rejuvenated his career on the 3-on-3 stage. In addition to winning two MVPs, he also won two Too Hard to Guard Awards and a championship to cap off his historic season. Beasley was so dominant in the league that even former Heat teammate Dwiane Wade had to congratulate him.