Two ex-NBA players were suspended by the BIG3 after an altercation during the first game of the season Saturday.
Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley were ejected from the first game of the new league season and will now miss one game each for their actions after Beasley got into an incident with Dwight Howard.
Stephensen then followed it up by throwing punches at a member of the LA Riot after he threw another player down to the ground.
Both Beasley and Stephenson play for Miami 305 and were kicked out of the game.
“After reviewing the incident, the league determined that their conduct fell short of the standards of professionalism, respect and sportsmanship expected of all BIG3 players,” BIG3 commissioner Clyde Dexter said in a statement announcing their suspensions. “Competition drives our league. We embrace physical play and welcome trash talk, however, fighting of any kind will not be tolerated. Protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of everyone on and around the court remains our top priority.”
In order for Miami 305 to ensure it has the four minimum players required to be available, the BIG3 will stagger their suspensions.
Beasley will serve his suspension during Week 3 of the season in Miami and Stephenson will be suspended during Week 2.
League founder Ice Cube also took to social media to apologize for the actions of the two players.
“Apologies to everybody watching the Miami 305 vs. LA riot on @CBS yesterday. We all wanted to see a great basketball game. That wasn’t it,” he wrote on X.
Stephenson played 10 years in the NBA, with the first seven being in Indiana.
He also spent time with the Lakers, Hornets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Timberwolves and Pelicans, and averaged 8.6 points per game during his career.
Beasley spent 11 years in the NBA, with stops in the Heat, Timberwolves, Suns, Knicks, Bucks, Lakers, and Rockets, while averaging 12.4 points per game.
