Things got heated between Dwight Howard and Lance Stevenson during the Big 3 debut.
During Saturday’s event with Los Angeles riots and Miami 305 in the 3-on-3 basketball league, Howard was involved in a physical altercation that escalated into the stands.
The confrontation started at baseline after Stevenson tangled with another player near half court. The verbal exchanges quickly turned physical.
In the heat of the moment, Howard made contact by pushing Stevenson, and soon they were right by the stands.
Once in the stands, Stevenson tackled Howard to the ground as bystanders began to leave the area.
Both Howard, aged 39, and Stevenson, aged 34, were making their first appearances in the Big 3 league after Howard’s last NBA game three years ago.
Howard has an extensive 18-season NBA career and was recently inducted into the Nice Miss Basketball Hall of Fame, along with fellow All-Star Carmelo Anthony.
Throughout his career, Howard has earned eight All-Star selections and was named defensive player of the year three times. He celebrated an NBA championship win with the Lakers in 2020.
Despite feeling overlooked by the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021, Howard described his Hall of Fame induction as a “solid feeling.” He shared his thoughts in an April interview with Forbes.
“It’s a more solidified feeling,” Howard expressed, likening it to being “planted in the ground.” He talked about the significance of the honor in the context of his long career.
“Mello and I have been overlooked in some ways due to the length of our careers,” he added. “We both started at a young age and have played far longer than the average career.”
When reflecting on satisfaction, Howard noted, “Only 4,800 people have played in the NBA in its history, and just 0.9% of them were All-Stars.”
