Season six of BIG3 Basketball is set to begin this Sunday in Chicago at the United Center. The league announced that it would be returning to touring, with 10 different cities hosting games over the 10-week regular season. 2022 saw viewership numbers on the rise with several games setting record viewers, including over one million people tuning in to the BIG3 Championship Game. Because of this success, CBS is returning as the league’s primary broadcast partner.
Tomorrow starts week one with a six-game slate on the schedule as there are a handful of teams that have a legit shot to win the 2023 BIG3 Championship. There are new and exciting names entering the league along with seasoned veterans across the landscape. The popularity of the BIG3 is only getting bigger and this season is set to be one of the most exciting to date.
Top Four Teams Who Could Win the 2023 BIG3 Championship
4. Power (2022 Record: 5-3)
After winning the BIG3 Basketball Championship in 2018, Power has been close to adding another but has fallen short of doing so. They made the championship game last season but couldn’t get passed a strong Trilogy team.
Power returns nearly all of their talent from 2022, with the exception of Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who’s been replaced by the skilled Akil Mitchell. Among the returns are the number one overall pick in 2022 and one of the best scorers in the BIG3, Glen Rice Jr., who won Rookie of the Year after placing top-5 in total points, rebounds, and assists. Captain Cuttino Mobley is the perfect player to lead this team. He’s been an intricate part of Power’s success throughout the years. Although he didn’t stuff the stat sheet in 2022 like in years past, his leadership and high IQ are exactly what Power needs.
They also have a great playmaker in Royce White, who was fourth in the league with 4.0 assists a game and third in total assists. He also tallied 54 total rebounds, good for third in the league. Don’t forget T.J. Cline, who was second on the team with 10.4 points per game. With head coach Nancy Lieberman back at the helm and instilling her almost unstoppable system since day one, Power will have a great chance to win their second title.
3. Triplets (2022 Record: 2-4)
How can the Triplets be favorites to win the 2023 BIG3 Championship after being one of the worst teams in the league last season? They went 2-4 and were near or at the bottom in almost every statistical category as a team. The answer to that question is because of one name, Joe Johnson. He missed all but three games in 2022 after taking a hiatus during the season.
Iso Joe, as they call him, won back-to-back MVP awards in 2019 and 2021 after leading the league in points in both seasons. He also landed near the top in rebounds and assists in those years. Not only did he shine on the offensive side but he was second in total steals in 2019 and 2021 as well. With all this talk about Joe, the Triplets still have talent you can’t sleep on, with the talented Pargo Brothers, the tough Larry Sanders, and an electric Damien Wilkins.
With one of if not the best player in the BIG3’s short existence coming back into the fold, a mix of talented veterans, and 2019 Coach of the Year Lisa Leslie, the Triplets leap into the championship discussion and will try to win their second title.
2. 3 Headed Monsters (2022 Record: 6-2)
The 3 Headed Monsters constantly find themselves in the BIG3 Championship picture but they never seem to get over the hump. They’ve made it to at least the semi-finals in each season and made the big game in 2017 and 2021 but have nothing to show for it. The 3 Headed Monsters went 6-2 last season, despite roster changes and missing Reggie Evans.
They were able to dominate with 2021 Rookie of the Year Kevin Murphy, who came into the league and averaged 20.4 points per game. He followed that up with an even better year, winning the MVP award in 2022 on just over 25 points per game while making the most total field goals and 4-pointers. Murphy is accompanied by former league MVP and captain Rashard Lewis, who was second on the team with 11.9 points per game.
What will make this team even more dangerous this year is the return of Reggie Evans, who is one of the best all-around players in the BIG3. Head coach Reggie Theus comes back for his second year for the 3 Headed Monsters after winning the Head Coach of the Year. With the talent on this roster and the experience, the 3 Headed Monsters have a great chance to be dominant again, this time hoping to end it all with gold.
1. Trilogy (2022 Record: 6-2)
After winning the BIG3 Championship in 2021, Trilogy came back and repeated in 2022, giving them their third title in team history. They have a mix of size, athleticism, and shot-making ability that make them a dangerous team to three-peat. James White returns as captain, making him the only player on the roster to have been with the team since the league began. That also means he’s the only player to become a three-time champ.
Also returning is the dynamic duo of Earl Clark and Isaiah Briscoe, who stuffed the stat sheet both in the regular season and playoffs on their way to the championship. Clark averaged 15.3 points a game while leading the league in total rebounds (69; second with 8.6 RPG), total steals (14; first with 1.7 steals per game), and was second in blocks per game (1.3) and total blocks (11). His 14 steals broke the record for most steals in a season. With that effort, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The second half of that duo, Isaiah Briscoe, was just as good as Clark. He averaged 19.1 points per game while being placing second in total points with 153. He looks to build on a tremendous 2022 campaign with his great shot-making ability and dangerous handles. Amir Johnson also had a big hand in helping Trilogy capture their third title. He is one of the best in the paint at 6’9″, 253 pounds. He used that frame to get to and attack the rim and shoot the ball at a 66% clip. Pair this with a reliable David Hawkins and a coach in Stephen Jackson who’s won the BIG3 Championship in each of his first two seasons, and you have a team with a real shot at winning their third consecutive title.
Honorable Mentions: Aliens (2022 Record: 5-3), Killer 3s (2022 Record: 5-3)
Week 1 Matchups:
Trilohy vs Enemies
Triplets vs Bivouac
Power vs 3 Headed Monsters
Aliens vs Ball Hogs
Ghost Ballers vs 3’s Company
Killers 3s vs Tri State
