Jumping, spinning and shooting, a BIG3 Street competition shows off the best of amateur NYC hoops

Local hoopsters showed off their jump shots, moves and big city dreams at a BIG3 Street Tour Saturday in upper Manhattan, competing for prize money, prestige and props in the popular 3-on-3 court world.

Dozens of 3-on-3 ballers braved the scorching heat for a chance to impress BIG3 coaches, players and more than 100 spectators at the traveling tournament staged in Dyckman Park. Eight teams competed for the winning silver-and-black glass basketball trophy and a $5,000 cash prize.

The game of 3-on-3 basketball has a unique character, said Keith Seaman, 25, who played point guard for the New York Soundview and lives on Long Island.

“You have to make sure you have good team chemistry in 3-on-3 basketball,” he said. “The roots of where basketball starts is 3-on-3 basketball.”

Seaman said he played in the Caribbean for Barbados, but New York courts hold a special place in his heart.

“I always loved New York city basketball, you can’t beat it. Anytime you come out here you got to play your hardest,” he said.

The BIG3 is a professional 3-on-3 league co-founded by hip-hop artist and actor Ice Cube featuring former NBA and European players. The league’s Week 4 games are being held at the Prudential Center in Newark Sunday. The teams travel from city to city each week, though the league is migrating to a home market model.

Saturday’s play was part of BIG3 Street, an amateur 3-on-3 event affiliated with the league.

Soaring in popularity, 3-on-3 basketball made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games. Those who played Saturday said high-level 3-on-3 basketball is true New York.

“This is an exciting time in the BIG3,” said BIG3 CEO Ice Cube, in a statement. “It’s the type of play at courts like Dyckman that inspired the BIG3 game and I’m excited to make the BIG3’s presence known in New York this weekend.”

Playing power forward center for the New York Soundview team, Sony Cabral, 28, who grew up in the Soundview section of the Bronx, said it was his first time playing in a BIG3 tournament.

“It’s a different game, different rules, similar but nice change of pace,” said Cabral, who said he had pro ball experience in the Dominican Republic and Spain.

“I’ve found a love for 3-on-3 play because it’s fast-paced, run your own system,” he said. “It’s less players, more space, more fun.”

Played with breakneck speed, the game features three-person teams on a half court with just one hoop. In this tournament, the first team to score 25 points, and be ahead by at least two points, was the winner. The tournament winner was the team “By Any Means.”

“The goal is to win and not lose. There is 5k on the line so that would be good pocket change to have,” said Unique MClean, 27, a Brooklyn resident playing combo guard for the New York Soundview.

“I’ve been playing for a very long time,” he added. “This game means the world to me.”

For Enees Nikovic, 30, of Brooklyn, playing for the Ballin 4 Peace team, 3-on-3 has given him a second chance after an injury-riddled basketball career.

Nikovic said he played basketball in high school, college and overseas but tore his ACL twice, leaving him nagged by injuries.

“When I got introduced to 3-on-3, it was less wear and tear on the body, very much more simple,” he said.

Being smart and technical, even more than being athletic, is key to 3-on-3, he said.

“This gave me hope again to keep extending my basketball dream,” he said.

A college student playing in the tournament for the Dominican Power team, 21-year-old Bronx resident Damani Claxton said he welcomed the chance to compete against so many players with around-the-world experience.

“This is a good event to make some money and have some fun,” said Claxton. “I’m hoping to get the experience of playing against pros and overseas guys. I want to be a pro some day myself.”

Haron Hargrave, 39, of Queens, also playing on Ballin 4 Peace, said he has been playing basketball since he was a toddler and playing 3-on-3 with his brother for more than a decade.

“If there is anything going on with 3-on-3 basketball, we want to be a part of it,” he said.

“It means a lot to me to play in this event,” he added. “I’ve been playing this game my entire life.”

Next year, BIG3 is planning for the winning teams from its BIG3Street Tour to compete in a championship with a $50,000 winning purse.