Boston Ball Hogs
The Boston Ball Hogs are a professional men's 3-on-3 basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, that competes in the BIG3 league, a 3-on-3 circuit founded in 2017 by rapper Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz.[1][2] Established as an expansion franchise for the 2025 season, the Ball Hogs played their inaugural campaign starting June 14, 2025, under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Gary Payton, a former Boston Celtics point guard known for his defensive prowess.[1][3] The team's roster features a mix of former NBA players and international talents, including captain Kevin Murphy—a 2012 NBA Draft selection and BIG3 MVP—co-captains Jonathon Simmons and Deshawn Stephens, along with Dominique Johnson and Chris Johnson.[3][1] In their debut season, the Ball Hogs compiled a 4–4 regular-season record across 10 weeks of competition, finishing fifth in the eight-team league and missing the playoffs, which were ultimately won by the Miami 305.[2][4][5]Franchise history
Inception as Ball Hogs (2017)
The Ball Hogs were established as one of the original eight teams in the BIG3, a professional 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by rapper and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, which was officially announced on January 11, 2017.[6] The league aimed to provide a platform for veteran NBA players during the offseason, emphasizing a fast-paced, half-court format designed to showcase skill and entertainment.[7] The Ball Hogs' formation aligned with the league's debut season, with team names and matchups revealed alongside the full 10-week schedule on April 17, 2017.[8] The team's initial roster was built through the inaugural BIG3 draft held on April 30, 2017, where the Ball Hogs selected forward Derrick Byars as their first pick (seventh overall), followed by veteran forward Rasual Butler (tenth overall) and forward Dominic McGuire (eighteenth overall).[9] These selections formed the core of the squad, complemented by captains Brian Scalabrine and co-captain Josh Childress, both former NBA players known for their experience in professional basketball.[10] The draft prioritized players with NBA tenure to leverage their expertise in a condensed, high-intensity environment. Conceived as a traveling franchise without a designated home city, the Ball Hogs operated under the BIG3's touring model, competing in arenas across 10 U.S. cities each week to build national appeal.[11] This nomadic structure focused on assembling rosters of seasoned NBA veterans suited to the half-court 3-on-3 style, which emphasized shooting, rebounding, and quick transitions over traditional full-court play.[12] The inaugural season, which ran from June 25 to August 13, 2017, brought early challenges for the Ball Hogs and other teams as players adapted to the league's unique rules, including a 4-point shooting circle, no fouling out, and a 14-second shot clock.[13] NBA veterans, habituated to 5-on-5 full-court games, found the half-court dynamic a "different animal," requiring adjustments in spacing, physicality, and strategy.[14] The compressed 10-week schedule further intensified preparations, involving weekly travel and back-to-back games that tested endurance and team cohesion from the outset.[7]Traveling team era (2018–2024)
Following the inaugural 2017 season, the Ball Hogs operated as a traveling team in the BIG3 league, participating in a nomadic format without a home city affiliation until 2025. The franchise maintained consistent involvement in the league's regular season, competing in an expanded 10-team structure from 2019 onward after starting with eight teams in 2018. Team colors of green, yellow, and white were established during this period, reflecting a consistent visual identity amid roster changes.[15] To refresh the roster after the 2017 season, the Ball Hogs selected key players in the 2018 BIG3 draft, including guard Andre Owens as the first overall pick, along with Corsley Edwards and Jermaine Taylor, who joined captains Brian Scalabrine, Josh Childress, and DeShawn Stevenson. These additions aimed to bolster scoring and defense in the 3-on-3 format, but the team struggled with cohesion, finishing 1-7 and missing the playoffs. Over the subsequent years, roster evolution continued through annual drafts and free-agent signings, yet persistent challenges in team chemistry under the traveling model prevented sustained success, resulting in no postseason appearances across the era. For instance, records included 1-7 in 2019, 3-5 in 2021 (after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19), 1-5 in 2022, 4-4 in 2023, and 3-5 in 2024.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] A significant shift occurred in 2022 when Krause House DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization, acquired all 25 Fire-Tier Ownership NFTs for the Ball Hogs, gaining full ownership and introducing a fan-driven governance model through blockchain-based participation. This move allowed community members to influence decisions via DAO proposals, marking an innovative experiment in sports ownership amid the team's ongoing struggles. Despite this, the Ball Hogs' 1-5 finish that year underscored the era's limitations, with the lack of a fixed home base contributing to difficulties in building fan loyalty and stable team dynamics.[24][25]Relocation and rebranding to Boston (2025)
On March 26, 2025, the BIG3 league announced its transition to a home-market model for the eighth season, introducing eight city-based teams to foster deeper community ties and fan engagement after years of operating as a traveling circuit.[11][26] The original Ball Hogs franchise, which had competed without a fixed home since 2017, was assigned to Boston, Massachusetts, marking a significant shift from the prior nomadic structure that had hindered localized support.[27][28] The team was rebranded as the Boston Ball Hogs, retaining its established colors of green, yellow, and white to maintain continuity while embracing a Boston identity.[15] Home games were scheduled at TD Garden, the iconic arena in Boston, with the first home game set for July 13, 2025, to leverage the venue's prominence in the city's sports landscape.[29] To enhance supporter involvement, the league introduced the "Pig Pen" as a dedicated fan section, building on the Ball Hogs' longstanding enthusiast group to create an energetic, localized atmosphere at games. In April 2025, the Boston Ball Hogs revealed their pre-draft roster, securing three of five spots with veteran players to establish a core ahead of the May draft, thereby laying the groundwork for a distinct team identity rooted in the city.[1] This move underscored the rebranding's focus on blending the franchise's history with Boston's basketball heritage, setting the stage for sustained local loyalty.[30]Seasons and performance
Pre-Boston seasons (2017–2024)
The Ball Hogs competed in the BIG3 league from its inception in 2017 through 2024 without qualifying for the playoffs in any of their eight seasons, finishing outside the top four in the eight-team league each year. Their cumulative regular-season record across these years reflected consistent struggles, with no season exceeding a .500 winning percentage; for instance, they posted a 2–6 mark in 2017, a 1–7 record in 2019, and a league-worst 1–5 finish in 2022. These results were emblematic of broader challenges in a league where only the top four teams advanced to the postseason tournament.[31][20] Despite the overall mediocrity, the Ball Hogs had moments of individual brilliance that highlighted their potential. A standout performance came in Week 1 of the 2017 season, when Rasual Butler drained a league-record six three-pointers against 3's Company, contributing to an early win and showcasing the shooting prowess possible in the format. Such highs were rare amid frequent low-scoring outputs, as the team's veteran-laden rosters often struggled with execution under the half-court 3-on-3 rules, which emphasize quick decision-making, spacing, and physicality without full-court transitions.[32] The Ball Hogs participated in 10-week regular seasons played across multiple U.S. cities, from New York to Los Angeles, embodying the league's traveling-team model that tested players' endurance and adaptability. This nomadic schedule, combined with the demands of the 3-on-3 format on aging professionals—many in their late 30s or 40s—exacerbated performance inconsistencies. Roster turnover was a persistent issue, driven by retirements, injuries, and the annual player draft, which disrupted chemistry; for example, early impacts from 2017 draftees like Michael Beasley provided flashes of talent but could not sustain momentum across seasons. These factors contributed to the team's inability to build a cohesive unit capable of playoff contention.[5]2025 inaugural Boston season
The 2025 season marked the inaugural campaign for the Ball Hogs as a Boston-based franchise in the BIG3 league, following their relocation and rebranding earlier in the year, which enabled the team to host home games for the first time. The 10-week regular season schedule featured a mix of road and neutral-site contests before culminating in Week 5's home debut at TD Garden in Boston on July 13. This shift from the team's prior traveling status fostered growing local engagement, with the TD Garden event highlighting increased fan support in the Boston area through dedicated home team promotions and community tie-ins.[33][34] Key schedule highlights included a narrow Week 1 loss to the Dallas Power, 49-51, in Chicago, setting a competitive tone early on. The team rebounded in Week 2 with a 50-42 victory over the DMV Trilogy in Baltimore, showcasing defensive prowess in holding opponents under 50 points. The season's most dramatic moment came in Week 9, a 48-52 defeat to the LA Riot that eliminated any slim playoff hopes, despite a hard-fought effort in a must-win scenario for both teams. Other notable games contributed to a balanced but ultimately non-playoff run, with the Ball Hogs competing across various host cities like Miami, Detroit, and Los Angeles.[35][36][37] Finishing with a 4-4 record, the Boston Ball Hogs secured a mid-table position in the eight-team conference, tallying 375 points for and 369 against over the regular season. This outcome placed them fifth overall, just outside the playoff bracket that advanced the top four seeds. While the team did not qualify for the postseason, the season underscored the benefits of their new Boston identity, including the home venue experience at TD Garden that drew enthusiastic crowds and marked a step toward building a dedicated local fanbase.[4][38] In the broader league context, BIG3 Season 8 concluded with the playoffs and championship on August 24 in Orlando, where the Miami 305 defeated the Chicago Triplets 52-48 to claim the title, highlighting the high-stakes competition that the Ball Hogs aimed to join in future years.[39][35]Players and personnel
Current roster and captains
The Boston Ball Hogs' 2025 roster consists of five players selected through the BIG3 league's pre-draft process and annual draft held on May 15, 2025, in Las Vegas, with three spots announced in advance on April 10, 2025, to form a unit optimized for the half-court, 3-on-3 format emphasizing quick transitions and perimeter shooting.[1][3] Captain Kevin Murphy, a 6'6" shooting guard with one NBA season of experience from 2012-13 with the Utah Jazz, holds the BIG3 single-season record for most 4-point shots made with five in 2022 while leading the league in scoring at 26 points per game that year.[40][41][42] Co-captains Jonathon Simmons, a 6'6" guard with four NBA seasons across the San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic from 2015-19, and Deshawn Stephens, a 6'8" forward with no NBA experience but extensive G League play including stints with the Austin Toros and South Bay Lakers, bring veteran perimeter defense and rebounding suited to the 3-on-3 game's physicality.[43][44][45][46] Rounding out the roster are Dominique Johnson, a 6'4" guard known for his scoring efficiency after G League time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce and overseas play, and Chris Johnson, a 6'11" center who led the BIG3 in blocks per game in 2021 with his LSU background as the program's second all-time blocks leader behind Shaquille O'Neal.[3][47][48] The group's emphasis on veteran leadership fosters team dynamics centered on experienced decision-making in half-court sets, adapting full-court skills to the BIG3's no-dribble-after-five-seconds rule and 4-point arc.[3]| Player | Position | Height | NBA Seasons | Notable BIG3 Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Murphy (Captain) | Shooting Guard | 6'6" | 1 | BIG3 single-season 4-point shots record (5 in 2022)[42] |
| Jonathon Simmons (Co-Captain) | Guard | 6'6" | 4 | N/A |
| Deshawn Stephens (Co-Captain) | Forward | 6'8" | 0 | N/A |
| Dominique Johnson | Guard | 6'4" | 0 | N/A |
| Chris Johnson | Center | 6'11" | 0 | BIG3 blocks per game leader (2021)[48] |