Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson made their debuts in the BIG3 on Saturday when the LA Riot took on Miami 305 in the season opener. It turned out to be an unforgettable night, albeit for the wrong reasons, as Howard and Stephenson brawled during the game.
LANCE STEPHENSON VS. DWIGHT HOWARD FIGHT. 🍿🍿🍿
(h/t @redapples)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 14, 2025
Howard and Stephenson were seen exchanging words, after which all hell broke loose. The former put the latter in a headlock, and the fight would eventually spill over into the stands. Here’s another angle of the brawl.
Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson get ejected for a scuffle in their @TheBIG3 debuts 🤬 pic.twitter.com/rm6UxgQW9o
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 14, 2025
Howard and Stephenson were unsurprisingly ejected for this. It was not the way either would have imagined their debuts ending. Stephenson later stated on Instagram that Howard was out of control during the game.
“He had 10 fouls, pushing everybody, he was outta control.”
Lance on IG https://t.co/VcXzjq9VrN pic.twitter.com/qAL3DeH4hc
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 15, 2025
As for this game, Miami 305 beat LA Riot 50-44. Stephenson had 16 points, three rebounds, and one assist to help his team get the win, while Howard put up 10 points and seven rebounds.
Interestingly, this altercation with Howard was the second one Stephenson was involved in on Saturday. Earlier in the game, Jordan Crawford had raised his hand and hit Stephenson’s nose. That prompted him to throw a punch, and both men had to be separated.
Jordan Crawford stuck his finger in Lance Stephenson’s nose in the BIG3 pic.twitter.com/akIjXGmIbq
— David Astramskas (@redapples) June 14, 2025
Stephenson was known for getting under people’s skin during his 10-year NBA career. While he was a solid player with career averages of 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, he made a name for himself with all of his antics.
Stephenson famously once taunted LeBron James, and it hasn’t taken him too long to rile up his opponents in the BIG3.
While Stephenson wasn’t a big star in the NBA, Howard sure was. He won a title to go with three Defensive Player of the Year awards in 18 seasons. The big man also made eight All-Star, eight All-NBA, and five All-Defensive teams.
Howard last suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22 and had been openly asking for another opportunity to play in the NBA. None came his way, though, and he’ll have to make do with playing in the BIG3.
