Two former Los Angeles Lakers made their highly anticipated BIG3 debuts on Saturday night—and wasted no time making headlines. Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson, once teammates in purple and gold, reignited their fiery reputations in the league’s season opener between the LA Riot and Miami 305. What was expected to be a nostalgic return for two ex-NBA stars instead devolved into a physical altercation that left both ejected and fans stunned.
Howard, a cornerstone of the Lakers’ 2020 championship team, and Stephenson, known for his antics during his previous stints with the Pacers and Lakers, brought years of NBA experience to the BIG3 stage. But it wasn’t their stats that turned heads—it was the fight.
Former Lakers Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson Clash in Chaotic BIG3 Debuts
The confrontation began when Stephenson appeared to throw an elbow into Howard’s chest during a heated exchange. Tempers flared quickly. Stephenson raised his arm, Howard responded by shoving it away, and within seconds, the two were locked in a tussle that spilled off the court and into the media area behind the basket. The skirmish escalated to the point that both men ended up on the ground, tangling behind the hoop as officials scrambled to break it up.
The league promptly ejected both players. Stephenson later aired his frustration on Instagram, accusing Howard of playing recklessly throughout the game. “He had 10 fouls, pushing everybody, he was outta control,” Stephenson wrote.
It was a stunning moment, particularly given the BIG3’s reputation as a fun, more relaxed environment tailored for former NBA stars. But for fans who remember Howard’s no-nonsense interior presence or Stephenson’s relentless, sometimes irritating defensive tactics, the outburst felt oddly familiar. These were never players known for backing down.
Saturday’s fireworks weren’t limited to that single incident. Earlier in the game, Stephenson was involved in another scuffle—this time with Jordan Crawford. After Crawford made contact with Stephenson’s face, the former Pacer threw a retaliatory punch. That altercation was quickly diffused, and neither player was ejected, though the tension clearly lingered.
On the stat sheet, Stephenson had the last laugh. He finished with 16 points, three rebounds, and an assist, helping Miami 305 defeat Howard’s LA Riot 50-44. Howard logged 10 points and seven rebounds before his early exit.
This marked the first BIG3 appearance for both Howard and Stephenson, who collectively logged over three decades in the NBA. Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, last played for the Lakers in 2021–22 and had been campaigning publicly for another shot in the league. With that door seemingly closed, he now turns his attention to the BIG3. Stephenson, meanwhile, is already making waves—just as he did during his playing days—with the kind of on-court energy that has always polarized fans.
Their clash also underscored a broader trend in the BIG3’s eighth season. The league has welcomed an influx of high-profile names, including Kemba Walker, Montrezl Harrell, and Wesley Johnson. With a revamped 10-week schedule, eight new franchises, and a $1 million championship prize on the line, the intensity is clearly ramping up—even if it’s not always in the way the league intends.
For Howard and Stephenson, it wasn’t the dream debut. But in a league that thrives on personality and physicality, it was undoubtedly unforgettable.