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Press ReleaseMarch 26, 2025
BIG3 Debuts All-New City-Based Teams For Season 8, Including Detroit Amplifiers Owned By GameAbove Sports
League moves to location-based franchise model with new teams in Detroit, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, DMV, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami
DETROIT, MI—In a bold shift that marks a new era for professional 3-on-3 basketball, the BIG3 today announced its full transition to a city-based franchise model ahead of the league’s highly anticipated eighth season, tipping off June 14, 2025. Among the eight all-new teams is Detroit’s own franchise, the Detroit Amplifiers, owned and operated by GameAbove Sports.
The complete list of newly launched teams includes:
- Boston Ball Hogs – Coached by Gary Payton
- Chicago Triplets – To be announced
- Dallas Power – Coached by Nancy Lieberman
- Detroit Amplifiers – Coached by George Gervin
- DMV Trilogy – Coached by Stephen Jackson
- Houston Rig Hands – Coached by Calvin Murphy
- Los Angeles Riot – Coached by Nick Young
- Miami 305 – Coached by Michael Cooper
With this expansion, GameAbove Sports, a Detroit-based sports investment group, takes center court as the owner of the Detroit Amplifiers, bringing professional 3-on-3 basketball back to the city. This marks a significant milestone in GameAbove Sports' growing global footprint and deepening commitment to Detroit’s sports community.
“Detroit is a city built on pride, resilience, and rhythm—just like this team will be,” said George Gervin, Head Coach of the Detroit Amplifiers. “We’re not just showing up to play. We’re coming to represent the energy and hustle of this city every time we step on the court. It’s an honor to lead this team and bring something fresh and powerful to the Detroit basketball scene.”
The move to a location-based model addresses a long-standing challenge in building dedicated team fandom under the league’s previous touring structure. Since its founding, BIG3 has generated millions of fans for the league—but struggled to create deep ties to individual teams.
BIG3 Co-CEO Jeff Kwatinetz said, “We found it challenging to create fans for specific teams that were not aligned with cities.” By launching eight brand-new city-based franchises, the BIG3 hopes to deepen fan loyalty, build local excitement, and lay the foundation for future expansion. The league will put legacy teams such as 3’s Company, Enemies, Killer 3’s, Tri-State, Ghost Ballers, Aliens, Bivouac, and 3 Headed Monsters will be put on hiatus for now. Kwatinetz notes they could return in future seasons.
“This is a landmark moment in our league,” said BIG3 Co-CEO Ice Cube. “These cities have shown up for us year after year, and we are honored to represent and reward those fans with a new franchise of their own.”
Each new team will feature an entirely new roster and coaching staff, with Detroit Amplifiers legend George Gervin leading the charge in the Motor City. Every franchise will also host a home game during the 2025 season, giving fans in each market—including Detroit—a chance to see elite 3-on-3 competition live and in person. The full BIG3 season schedule is expected to be released next week.
GameAbove Sports is also the lead partner in a global basketball initiative that includes a major stake in Australia’s NBL Brisbane Bullets and will co-host the BIG3’s first-ever international showcase in Australia later this year.
The Detroit Amplifiers ownership group is led by GameAbove Sports founder and chairman Keith J. Stone with Detroit pro sports notables, the NBA Hall of Famer Gervin and two-time NFL Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl Champion T.J. Lang, as well as Joe Januszewski, Karen LeVert, Skyler Stone, Corey Welch and co-founder of Born in Detroit apparel Anthony Tomey.
As the BIG3 begins a new chapter, Detroit’s team—and its fans—stand poised to become a driving force in this next evolution of professional basketball.
For schedule updates and news on when the BIG3 is coming to Detroit, visit BIG3.com and follow @thebig3 on Instagram and X.
About
BIG3
On January 11, 2017, the BIG3 was born. The first-ever professional FIREBALL3 league is the brainchild of producer, actor, and music legend Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, who shared a vision of a player-centric league focused on entertainment and innovation. The BIG3 is a league with no garbage minutes, where trash talk is allowed, defense is emphasized, fast-paced action, and where every point –whether it’s a 4-point or 3-point shot – counts. Any given BIG3 team has hall of famers, icons and trailblazers, and the next best 3-on-3 player.
The league has led the sports industry in diversity and opportunity, becoming the first professional sports league to implement a mental health policy, favor CBD as a pain management alternative to opioids, enlist female coaches of men, and appoint a black Commissioner in Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who is also professional sports first former player serving as Commissioner. The inaugural CEO was the legendary, incomparable Raider executive Amy Trask. This January 2024, BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube was honored at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, where he received the inaugural Ice Cube Impact Award, acknowledging individuals making substantial contributions to their community, the first non-player to be recognized. Founders Ice Cube and Jeffrey Kwatinetz are missioned to better society as BIG3 pursues business success while also helping to break down stereotypes, promote diversity in sports, create opportunities for black, brown, and female athletes beyond the court, and support the black, youth and basketball communities overall.
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