Corey Brewer, the Player Development coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, is using his summer to compete for a basketball championship. Brewer, a former NBA player, is playing in the BIG3 League, where his team, Bivouac, is set to play in the league’s championship game this weekend.
Brewer was recently named the BIG3’s Defensive Player of the Year, leading the league in steals and blocked shots this season. He delivered his best performance in the semifinals last week in his home state of Tennessee.
Bivouac won against Tri-State 50-40, with Brewer contributing 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocked shots. His team had a strong regular season, finishing with a 7-1 record and entering the playoffs as the top seed.
Brewer joined the BIG3 league in 2022.
He returned to familiar territory in Portland, Tennessee, just 40 miles from where he was born. Brewer was a McDonald’s All-American and led his high school team to its only state tournament appearance in 2003.
He then went to the University of Florida, where he helped the Gators win two consecutive national championships.
The versatile forward had a 13-season NBA career, including winning an NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, he is one win away from a BIG3 title. The BIG3 league, founded by Ice Cube in 2017, has seen some success and will add a Miami team next season, making it a 12-team league in 2024.
The BIG3 league offers awards for individual achievements, such as MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, and hosts an All-Star game. Last year was the first time an active NBA player, Jaylen Brown of the Celtics, participated in the game. This year’s BIG3 weekend will be held in Boston at the TD Garden.
