The inaugural season of the BIG3 was generally viewed as a success. The league managed to bring in big enough stars to draw fans in and tweaks throughout the season allowed them to put forth an intriguing product. The BIG3 had enough success to come back for a second season in 2018, with big hopes for Year 2.
The BIG3 will expand its rosters by one, allowing for a third co-captain for all eight teams which they hope will be filled by another former NBA star. The first to commit to joining the BIG3 for 2018 was Metta World Peace, who signed with Stephen Jackson and Chauncey Billups’ Killer 3’s squad earlier this month. Seven more co-captains will be signed and revealed over the coming months, with the BIG3 hoping to add even bigger names that can give the league added buzz heading into the summer.
Roster additions aren’t the only changes coming to the BIG3 in 2018, however. Last year, one of the chief complaints about the BIG3 was that games were broadcast on delay on Monday nights, rather than live on Sundays when the event was happening. On Monday, Fox announced the 2018 events would be broadcast live, with eight weeks being on FS1 and four weeks being on Fox’s broadcast channels.
The events will be moved from Sundays to Friday evenings, starting on June 22 and concluding on August 24. The live broadcasts will run for three hours. The full TV schedule can be found below.
Fri., June 22: FS1 and FSGO, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET
Fri., June 29: FOX and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
Fri., July 6: FOX and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
Fri., July 13: FS1 and FSGO, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET
Fri., July 20: FS1 and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
Fri., July 27: FS1 and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
Fri., August 3: FS1 and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
Fri., August 10: FS1 and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET
Fri., August 17: FOX and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET (Playoffs)
Fri., August 24: FOX and FSGO, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET (Championship)
Having the games broadcast live figures to, if nothing else, boost TV ratings as last year results and video taken by fans would at times spoil big moments (or let people know when games were lopsided).
