BIG3 addresses Iverson's decision not to play

As a player-coach, Allen Iverson's role in the BIG3 is limited by definition. On a league conference call Wednesday, Ice Cube said that from the start it was clear that some days Iverson would play in the 3-on-3 games, some days he would simply coach.

Sunday in Philadelphia, Iverson decided not to play. He released a social-media message at 5:30 p.m., citing "doctor's orders." The event started at 6 p.m., with Iverson's team playing in the 9 p.m. finale.

"We heard that Allen couldn't play at 2 p.m. on Sunday," Ice Cube said. "When we went to his room, he was in bed and he was telling us what happened and we heard that he couldn't play. The doctor advised him that he couldn't play."

Wednesday's conference call was the first time the BIG3 addressed the media after Iverson decided not to play — as an originally scheduled press conference with Iverson, opposing coach Julius Erving and league executives Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz was canceled.

Iverson's standing ovation was short-lived Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Following a deafening introduction, more than half the crowd left by halftime after seeing Iverson stand on the sideline. Some booed, and many chanted for him to play. On Wednesday, Kwatinetz said, "I think most people walked away extremely fulfilled with the experience in Philadelphia."

Much of the frustration among fans were those who purchased tickets with the expectation that the 76ers Hall of Famer would be playing an organized game again. Regarding the timing of Iverson's announcement, both Ice Cube and Kwatinetz cited league policy, which disallows the BIG3 from "being specific on injuries or what players are medically going through, it's up to the players to reveal that information themselves."

Ice Cube, meanwhile, acknowledged the frustration and outrage from Philadelphia fans on Wednesday's call. The rapper and actor said he hopes that the BIG3 can return to Philadelphia with Iverson in uniform.

"Hopefully we can do another event, in Philly, for the fans," Ice Cube said. "We understand and we're not blind to the fact. We feel like the BIG3 will be able to make it up to those Philly fans somehow, someway, someday, the ones that were disappointed."