Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Dwight Howard ejected from BIG3 debut for fight with Lance Stephenson

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Jun 14, 2025 9:38 PM ET

Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson are going at it like it’s 2012 all over again.

The former NBA All-Star center Howard was involved in a large skirmish as he was making his debut in the BIG3 on Saturday. Howard now plays for the LA Riot in the 3-on-3 league founded by Ice Cube, and the league officially began its 10-week season this weekend.

During the Riot’s game on Saturday against Miami 305, Howard got into a fight with another former NBA player, Miami’s Lance Stephenson (who was also making his BIG3 debut).

Howard and Stephenson were in each other’s faces exchanging words when the former pushed the latter away. Stephenson responded by seemingly attempting to tackle Howard, and Howard returned the favor, successfully throwing Stephenson to the floor.

Here is the wild video (in which you can see that the two continued to grapple while on the ground).

LANCE STEPHENSON VS. DWIGHT HOWARD FIGHT.

(h/t @redapples)

pic.twitter.com/nqSeu7Ft9R
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 14, 2025

Both Howard and Stephenson got ejected for the fight. Miami ultimately went on to beat LA by a 48-44 final score.

Tensions had already been building earlier in the contest when ex-NBA guard Jordan Crawford, who also now plays for the LA Riot, stuck his finger into Stephenson’s nose.

Jordan Crawford stuck his finger in Lance Stephenson’s nose in the BIG3 pic.twitter.com/akIjXGmIbq
— David Astramskas (@redapples) June 14, 2025

Howard, who is 39 years old now and last played in the NBA in 2022, was known for these kinds of altercations during his career in the Association (even with teammates). As for Stephenson, now 34 and also having last played in the NBA in 2022, the same can be said of him as well (especially if you ask LeBron James). Getting those two characters to butt heads in the BIG3 went just about how you might expect it to.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: