Jodie Meeks named MVP of BIG3 All-Star Game

Jodie Meeks might have officially retired from professional basketball last year, but he’s still finding ways to flex his hooping skills at the age of 36.

Following Saturday’s BIG3 All-Star Game, Meeks was tabbed as the event’s Most Valuable Player after putting up a game-high 15 points for Team 3, which took down Team Big 51-42 in London, England. Meeks, who plays for the BIG3’s Ball Hogs, even went up against Boston Celtics current NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown, who made a surprise appearance in Saturday’s game as the league’s first active NBA player to ever suit up.

If you ask the social media streets, they’d tell you that Meeks got the better of Brown more often than not whenever the two were matched up against each other. Brown finished with nine points and five rebounds in the loss.

Congrats @Jmeeks20! 🤩 https://t.co/HiOWIb8bM4

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) August 26, 2023

For those unfamiliar with the BIG3, it’s a 3-on-3 basketball league that was founded by rapper/actor Ice Cube back in 2017. The rosters for each team are primarily made up of older former NBA players, including the likes of Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, Lamar Odom, and plenty more. Meeks has been a steady presence with the BIG3 for a few years now, even playing in last season’s All-Star Game with former fellow Kentucky guard, Isaiah Briscoe.

During the 2023 BIG3 season, Meeks ranks as one of the league’s top-five scorers with 141 total points and, even more impressive, third in total assists with 28 and tied for first in steals with 10. The former Wildcat has also hit 55 total field goals on the season (third-most) and 20 three-pointers (second-most). He was an easy choice to make the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year.

Since retiring from basketball, Meeks has moved into a coaching role. He was hired as an assistant coach for the Birmingham Squadron — the New Orleans Pelicans’ G League affiliate — ahead of the 2022-23 season. Prior to that, Meeks enjoyed a fruitful, 11-year-long NBA career across seven different franchises. The 6-foot-4 guard finished with career averages of 9.3 points per game on 37.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

While we’re here talking about Meeks nearly 15 years after his time in Lexington, let’s reminisce on one of the most impressive performances ever by a Kentucky Wildcat…