This Nate Robinson BIG3 game winner didn’t win a championship.
It didn’t beat a buzzer and will almost certainly never get a replay on ESPN Classic.
Forget about all that!
The combination of Nate Robinson, Big Baby, insane amounts of hustle, wonky BIG3 rules and an incredible finish make this obligatory basketball viewing material!
Setting the scene
The American Airlines Arena in Miami is hardly filled to NBA capacity, but it’s not empty either. The fans are pumped!
They have come to see the Power (5-1) face off against Tri-State (2-4). There is some unexpected star-power here.
If not for the unexpected, jaw-dropping final play, Tri-State coach Julius Erving‘s shirt would have easily stolen the show.
Jason Richardson came to play
At 39, Jason Richardson still balls. He scored 19 points, led both teams in rebounds and had many mid-game highlights.
An epic finish: The Nate Robinson BIG3 game winner
This play is amazing.
Amar’e sets up the play and knocks himself to the floor setting a ‘jump screen’. It switches Big Baby onto Robinson.
Nate tries to take advantage of the switch by using his speed, but Big Baby is fully locked-on and doesn’t give him an inch.
Amazingly, Big Baby sees an opportunity for a steal and nearly gets it with a full-extension dive.
Robinson dodges, barely maintains control and gathers to attempt a game winning three.
No one in that arena expected Big Baby’s lightning-fast recovery.
Impossibly, Big Baby jumps up and closes the gap on Nate as he is shooting, fully wraps him up and even continues to hold him in the air, even after the ball banks into the basket.
You really have to witness this for yourself, just be sure to stop the video before Michael Rappaport does his best to ruin it.
Ice Cube loves it. And so do we.
