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BIG3 League Basketball 2019 Results: Greg Oden's Debut Among Sunday's Highlights
June 23, 2019
After a fun opening day of the BIG3 season on Saturday, the remaining six teams kicked things off in 2019 on Sunday.
Several notable players were in action on Day 2, with Greg Oden and the Aliens as well as Joe Johnson and the Triplets leading the way. Amar'e Stoudemire, Nate Robinson, Mike Bibby, Carlos Boozer and more former NBA stars are on the rosters and ready to continue their playing careers with the three-on-three competition.
Check out a full breakdown of Sunday's action from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Schedule/Results
Triplets def. Aliens, 50-40
Killer 3's def. Tri-State, 54-52
Ghost Ballers def. Ball Hogs, 50-39
Triplets 50, Aliens 40
Greg Oden was never healthy enough to live up to expectations in the NBA, but the 31-year-old now has a chance at a second career with the BIG3. The 2007 No. 1 overall pick made some plays in the paint Sunday for the Aliens:
He finished with eight points and six rebounds, providing some encouragement going forward.
However, his team wasn't able to keep up as Joe Johnson took over for the Triplets.
The Aliens led 26-20 at the half, but the Triplets stormed back behind the coaching of Lisa Leslie.
Johnson looked like he did in his earlier playing days, showcasing his scoring ability in the lane on several big shots, including the game-winner:
The seven-time All-Star finished the game with 27 points and 16 rebounds while carrying a team that featured no one else topping 11 points. Al Jefferson and Jannero Pargo also helped out, but it was mostly a one-man show.
If Johnson can continue playing at this level, this squad could become one of the top contenders for the BIG3 season. Meanwhile, Oden can definitely help the Aliens win some games as the season progresses.
Killer 3's 54, Tri-State 52
It takes 50 points to win in the BIG3, but a few more possessions were needed in this one because neither side was able to grab at least a two-point lead. Donte Green took care of that with a game-winning three-pointer with the Killer 3's down one.
The former Syracuse star scored 14 points, overcoming the absence of Stephen Jackson.
There were much bigger names on the other side of the court for Tri-State, including Amar'e Stoudemire, who was taking over at times:
The former Suns and Knicks star led the way for his team offensively with 26 points and 10 boards, also playing some strong defense on Eddy Curry.
Stoudemire last played in the NBA in 2016 but showed in his season debut he can still make a big impact on the court. He discussed his excitement about the league at halftime:
Jason Richardson was also unguardable at times while scoring all over the court.
With help from Nate Robinson, Tri-State jumped out to an early lead. But it couldn't hold on late, as the Killer 3's stole a Week 1 victory.
Ghost Ballers 50, Ball Hogs 39
George Gervin showed he can coach as well as he played, with the Ghost Ballers head coach leading his team to an easy win.
Mike Taylor was the surprise star, finishing with 15 points off the bench.
On a team with Mike Bibby and Ricky Davis, the former Iowa State player was arguably the most impressive on the court.
Jamario Moon was then able to close things out for the Ghost Ballers with a tough layup inside for the win and his team-high 20th point:
The Ball Hogs simply struggled to keep up, with captain Brian Scalabrine unable to do much damage on either offense or defense. Injuries also kept the squad short-handed in the half-court competition.
Will McDonald had 17 points and 13 rebounds, but the squad could be in for another tough year after going 1-7 last season.