The BIG3 basketball league has achieved a new milestone, recording its highest telecast of the year with over 790,000 viewers tuning in on CBS for its Celebrity and Playoff Games held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The broadcast, which spanned 219 minutes beginning at 3pm ET, was highlighted by a peak audience of 1.15 million for the Dallas Power vs. Miami 305 playoff showdown—the most-watched BIG3 game in CBS history.
Key demographics were exceptionally strong, with 376,000 viewers between ages 18-49, peaking at 495,000 for ages 18-54. The intense matchup between Dallas Power and Miami 305 averaged 958,000 viewers, capturing the league’s growing appeal. Season-to-date, BIG3’s CBS viewership is up more than 25%, and last weekend’s telecast soared nearly 50% above the same period in the previous season.
BIG3 CEO Ice Cube credited the new location-based team structure for deepening fan investment: “Our main goal this year…was to have our fans feel represented and to see our viewers evolve from fans of the league to fans of their hometown team—and that’s exactly what these ratings tell us. We’re still a young league, and this is just the beginning.”
This playoff weekend also featured a first-time victory for Celebrity Team Clyde over Team Ice Cube, as well as standout performances from former BIG3 Rookie of the Year Hezi God, Love Island’s Jose “Pepe” Garcia, and rapper Waka Flocka. In competitive playoff action, 2025 Rookie of the Year Montrezl Harrell propelled his team to the title game, setting the stage for Dr. J to vie for the championship trophy named in his honor. The Dallas Power narrowly fell to Miami 305 in a dramatic 50-47 finish.
The broadcast also marked the successful debut of Emmy-winning reporter Rachel Nichols as a BIG3 sideline reporter, joined by NBA Insider Chris Haynes—a testament to the league’s growing media presence.
President Jeff Kwatinetz emphasized the league’s unique market position: “BIG3 is the most compelling live sports property in the summer, period. Not only did we reach an incredible number of fans live, but we continue to attract the fans that every league is fighting for—the young, diverse, and engaged 18-49 demographic.” The league’s social media presence has exploded as well, amassing 735 million views—up 402% year over year—fueling continued engagement through podcasts and community outreach.
As BIG3 heads to Orlando’s Addition Financial Arena for the season’s championship game, there’s never been a better time to be a fan. This year’s action-packed season, marked by double-digit growth across broadcast, digital, and social platforms, cements the BIG3 as a major force in the summer sports landscape—breaking down barriers and building an ever-more diverse, energetic community around the game.
