David Hawkins is having an MVP season in the BIG3

MIAMI, FL - JULY 20: David Hawkins #34 of Tri State speaks at a press conference after his team played against the Ghost Ballers in a game during Big 3-Week Five at American Airlines Arena on July 20, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Big 3/Getty Images) /

We may have to start using the #KingOfBIG3 hashtag for David Hawkins, who is having an MVP-caliber season for Tri State in the BIG3.

LeBron James may be the best basketball player in the world 5-on-5, but he may not be able to keep up with the current King of the BIG3 league, David Hawkins.

BIG3 basketball has grown in popularity, but there are still many out there who have yet to hear of the best 3-on-3 basketball league in the world. Hawkins, a 6-foot-5 guard for Tri-State, is trying to open more people up to this unique brand of professional ball the best way he can — becoming the most dominant player in BIG 3.

Born and raised in Washington DC, Hawkins became a star player at Archbishop Carroll. After graduating high school, he played college ball at Temple University under legendary coach John Chaney. At the start of his Temple Owl’s career, it seemed like Hawkins would be destined for a long career in the NBA, but then bad grades struck and he was suspended.

Fortunately, Hawkins restored his grades and he became a standout out at Temple, being named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Atlantic 10 Second Team in 2003, and the All-Atlantic 10 First Team the following season.

After declaring for the 2004 NBA Draft, Hawkins went undrafted, then got cut from the Houston Rockets in preseason. From there, he went overseas to perfect his game for a second chance at the NBA, but that chance never came.

But someone in Basketball Heaven was looking out for him when the BIG3 came calling.

Drafted fifth overall by TriState, Hawkins has gone on to dominate the league. In their recent game against the Ghost Ballers, Hawkins scored 25 points and snatched 10 rebounds to lead Tri-State to a 4-1 record, the second-best record in the league. Going into week five, he was third in the league in scoring, first in assists, fifth in rebounds and and tied for third in steals.

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In a league filled with past NBA stars, Hawkins is trying to be the current star of BIG3, and he’s well on his way.