The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE BIG3 is set to return to The Bahamas in 2022 and will highlight its fifth season of professional 3-on-3 basketball by hosting its All-Star festivities at the Atlantis resort.

Week 12 of the season will include the league’s first All-Star Game, to be hosted Sunday, September 4 at the Imperial Arena.

The BIG3s fifth season tipped off on June 18.

The regular season will include two weeks in Chicago, Illinois, and seven in Dallas, Texas before the playoffs and championship game.

“With so much game-changing news from our league over the last month, we are thrilled to be sharing our schedule for this summer,” said BIG3 CEO Chris Hannan in an organisational press release.

“Our fans in Chicago, Dallas, and Atlantis brought the fire last year and we can’t wait to welcome them back this summer for our best season yet.”

With The Bahamas as its backdrop, the BIG3 concluded its fourth season in thrilling fashion and crowned its first two-time champion in league history.

The league stages its semifinals, followed by the championship and consolation games at the Imperial Arena. All playoff games aired live CBS and streamed on Paramount Plus.

Jarret Jack delivered an MVP performance with 29 points and the game-winning three-pointer to lead Trilogy to a 50-45 win over 3 Headed Monster in the championship game at the Imperial Arena.

Jack, who also finished with five assists and three steals, was named BIG3 Co-Rookie of the Year prior to the game.

Atlantis has hosted NCAA basketball for nearly a decade with Complete Sports Management’s Battle 4 Atlantis brand, FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers, and Miami Heat training camp. The BIg3 playoffs marked the first professional game hosted at the venue.

The BIG3 was founded by hip hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams whose rosters include both former NBA players and international players.

The league has introduced a number of new initiatives including double the number of open tryouts, lowering the minimum player age, and introducing the ‘Bring the Fire’ rule which allows teams one challenge per half determined by an in-game one-on-one.