NBA legend and newly minted Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Dwight Howard is gearing up for one final run on the court, signing with the Los Angeles Riot of the BIG3, the three-on-three basketball league co-founded by Ice Cube. The announcement, made earlier this week, has sparked excitement among fans eager to see the eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year showcase his skills in the fast-paced, half-court format.
Howard, 39, will join the Riot as a player-captain alongside co-captains Jordan Crawford and Elijah Stewart, under the guidance of head coach and former NBA guard Nick Young. The trio of Young, Crawford, and Stewart previously won a BIG3 championship together in 2023 with the Enemies, setting high expectations for the Riot’s debut season in Los Angeles. The team is slated to tip off the BIG3’s eighth season on June 14 at Allstate Arena in Chicago, with their hometown debut scheduled for August 9 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
“I’m excited to join Ice Cube and the BIG3, especially right after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame,” Howard said in a statement. “Words can’t describe how grateful I am for these opportunities. I can’t wait to join the L.A. Riot and try to bring another championship to the city of L.A. But the ultimate goal I have is to help the league go global.”
Howard’s decision to join the BIG3 comes on the heels of his Hall of Fame induction announcement, where he was named to the 2025 class alongside Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and others. A dominant force during his 18-year NBA career, Howard won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and earned accolades as a five-time All-NBA First Team selection and the league’s top rebounder on five occasions. His last NBA stint was with the Lakers in the 2021-22 season, after which he played overseas for the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan’s T1 League, earning MVP honors in 2022-23.
Ice Cube, BIG3’s CEO, welcomed Howard with enthusiasm, emphasizing his fit for the league’s high-energy style. “Dwight Howard is a perfect fit for the league, not just because of his athleticism and size but also due to our shared desire to grow the game of basketball around the world,” Cube said. “We all know Dwight can do more on the court than he was able to show in the NBA. It’s going to be nice to see him open up his game and show his all-around skills in the BIG3.”
The BIG3 is undergoing a transformation in 2025, shifting from a touring model to a city-based structure with eight teams representing Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, and the DMV area. Howard’s signing is part of a broader offseason push that includes former NBA players Montrezl Harrell and Wesley Johnson, signaling the league’s ambition to elevate its profile. The season will feature an eight-game regular season, culminating in a championship game with a date and location to be announced.