5 Players in the Big 3 Who Could be Back in the NBA Next Season
By Michael Luciano
Ice Cube's Big 3 has been a pretty big success, luring some of the best players of the mid-2000's and onwards to participate in the 3-on-3 league. The physicality and trash-talking nature of the game make it an intriguing watch for basketball fans.
What's more, is that some former players use the recently-established league as a platform to get back into the NBA. Here are some players who could get another shot in the NBA if they impress in the Big 3.
5. Larry Sanders
A former first-round pick who played five years with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sanders' mental health issues led him to leave the game in 2015 before resurfacing in 2017. Currently teammates with Reggie Evans and Rashard Lewis in the Big 3 on the 3-Headed Monsters, Sanders is just 30-years-old and can still block shots with the best of them. There's enough there for a G-League team to take a look at him.
4. Al Jefferson
A former All-NBA player who played 14 years in the league, Jefferson's last professional experience came in 2018, when he played for both the Indiana Pacers and Xijiang Flying Tigers in China. At 280 pounds, Jefferson remains a load down low with a good mid-range game, and could be considered by any team looking for a end of the bench veteran that can still lower his shoulder and score in the post.
3. Royce White
A former first round pick, White played only three games in the NBA after clashing with Houston Rockets ownership for what he deemed to be an insufficient mental health policy as he struggled with anxiety. The 28-year-old White has been showing off all the hops, athleticism, and speed for his size that made him such a coveted prospect. White clearly has plenty left in the tank, and might do enough to work his way back onto an NBA roster if he plays his cards right.
2. Amar'e Stoudemire
With the former Suns and Knicks star intent on playing in the NBA again, he has gone about reeking havoc the Big 3, leading the league in shots made and currently standing at second in points scored, trailing leader Craig Smith by just two points. Stoudemire last played in the NBA in 2016, though he did lead Israeli powerhouse Hapoel Jerusalem to a league title, the six-time All-Star has enough bounce left to make his NBA comeback dream a reality.
1. Joe Johnson
A seven-time All-Star, Johnson was playing 22 minutes per game on a Rockets team that made the Western Conference Finals in 2018. Currently second in the league in points and rebounds per game while leading the circuit in assists per game, Johnson looks levels better than his competition. Iso Joe hasn't lost his trademark jump shot, and NBA teams in 2019 could always use more shooting.