It was an eventful start to Season 9 in the BIG3, to say the least. Injuries took hold of notable names, we saw a trio of ejections, and even a game ending early due to a forfeit.
The ejections took place in game two between the LA Riot and Miami 305. First, it was Dwight Howard and Michael Beasley getting ejected for their second scuffle, and then later, Lance Stephenson for throwing a punch. With Reggie Evans already missing the game with an injury for Miami, they were forced to forfeit due to not having enough players to finish the game. This was the first such instance in league history that a game failed to be fully completed.
Aside from that chaos, it was a pretty exciting start to the BIG3 season overall. Of the three games that finished in Week 1, the biggest defeat was by just eight points. There were some explosive individual performances throughout the league, from newcomers and established players alike, and there’s promised to be a lot more as players get in rhythm for the season.
Week 1 Top Performances in the BIG3
Amir Johnson (Chicago Triplets)
Week 1 scoring: 26 points
There was no better performance to start the BIG3 season than what Amir Johnson displayed for the Chicago Triplets. He set a career-high in points and willed his team to a victory despite the absence of Montrezl Harrell and Leandro Barbosa ahead of the game due to injury, only playing with three players for the entire game.
Johnson can do plenty of things on the court to help his team win but he isn’t particularly known for his high-scoring games. When the Triplets needed a performance like this, Johnson stepped up like he’s shown in the past when he won back-to-back championships with the Trilogy in 2021 and 2022. This was by far the best performance of his BIG3 career.
Kevin Murphy (Houston Rig Hands)
Week 1 scoring: 25 points
Going blow-for-blow with Johnson was Kevin Murphy, who is no stranger to scoring. Murphy answered Johnson’s 26 points for the Triplets with 25 points of his own for the Houston Rig Hands. Murphy looked locked in all game and on a mission to have a rebound season, averaging just eight points per game for the Boston Ball Hogs last season.
Murphy came to prominence in the BIG3 in his first season, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021 and then MVP the next season. He came into the 2026 as the league’s second all-time leading scorer with 620 points. If he keeps putting together performances like this throughout the season, he will have a great chance to overtake the injured Joe Johnson for the all-time leading scorer in BIG3 history.
James Johnson (DMV Trilogy)
Week 1 scoring: 17 points
James Johnson had a great start to his BIG3 career, tallying the most points of any rookie in Week 1 with 17 for DMV Trilogy. He was a catalyst for his team’s close victory over the Detroit Amps.Â
Johnson was one of the more notable names to sign with the BIG3 after a 16-year career in the NBA. His talent was on display in this game and looked as advertised. Trilogy had a rare down season in 2025, and with one game, they could be on the rise yet again if Johnson continues to play like this.
Earl Clark (DMV Trilogy)
Week 1 scoring: 17 points
The other catalyst for the Trilogy’s victory was none other than Earl Clark, who also finished with 17 points. Clark heads into his fifth season with Trilogy and has done nothing but score. He’s coming off his best season yet in 2025 when he scored 150 total points, averaging 18.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He came into the season tied for second with the most points in BIG3 history and could be in a race with Murphy for first when the season is all said and done.
In the meantime, Clark is more focused on helping the Trilogy have a bounce-back year and winning his second title with the franchise. Clark has always had some of the best running mates in the league, and Johnson might be the latest in what could be one of the best duos in the league if they continue to score.
Elijah Stewart (Dallas Power)
Week 1 scoring: 17 points
After being on the Enemies/Riot since he began playing in the BIG3 in 2021, Elijah Stewart got drafted in the first round to the Dallas Power in the offseason. He made his presence felt on his new squad with a team-leading 17 points. He was a key piece to his previous teams, scoring over 100 points in three out of his five seasons. Last season, his scoring took a back seat with the addition of Howard on the Riot, but he’s ready to take over again with the Power.
Stewart had one of the hottest performances in Week 1, looking like he couldn’t miss during a stretch of the game, including a big step-back bucket late to give Power some space. His game looks to fit right in with guys like Greg Monroe and Glen Rice Jr., adding another element to this Dallas offense.
Other Notable Performances:
Corey Brewer (Detroit Amps): 16 points
Brandon Moss (Chicago Triplets): 14 points
Greg Monroe (Dallas Power): 14 points
Nasir Core (Detroit Amps): 14 points
Garlon Green (Boston Ball Hogs): 14 points
Jeremy Pargo (Boston Ball Hogs): 13 points
Billy Preston (LA Riot): 12 points
Lance Stephenson (Miami 305): 12 points
Donte Green (Detroit Amps): 11 points
Jonathon Simmons (Houston Rig Hands): 11 points
Wesley Johnson (Chicago Triplets): 11 points
Michael Beasley (Miami 305): 10 points
Ray Nixon (Boston Ball Hogs): 10 points
Week 1 Scores:
DMV Trilogy 51; Detroit Amps 46
LA Riot 39; Miami 305 30
Chicago Triplets 51; Houston Rig Hands 47
Dallas Power 51; Boston Ball Hogs 43
Week 2 Schedule (June 27th):
LA Riot (1-0) vs Dallas Power (1-0)
Detroit Amps (0-1) vs Miami 305 (0-1)
Houston Rig Hands (0-1) vs Boston Ball Hogs (0-1)
DMV Trilogy (1-0) vs Chicago Triplets (1-0)
Read More: Odds To Win the 2026 BIG3 Championship
