Allen Iverson Disappoints Philadelphia Fans During Big3 Homecoming Game

Allen Iverson arrived at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Sunday for his homecoming game with his Big3 team. Iverson's "3's Company" played, but he did not, leaving fans disappointed.

Iverson, the face of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball tournament, was supposed to play Sunday night but sat out due to his doctor’s orders. He announced minutes before the game on Instagram that he would not play.

"To all my fans out there, based on advice from my doctor, I will not be playing in the game tonight for the BIG3," Iverson said in an Instagram video at 5:35 p.m. ET. "I will be there to coach my team and beat Dr. J’s team, I will be interacting with all my fans, and we’ll have a great time and see some great basketball. I love you fans for supporting me all of the years up to date, and I’ll see you when I get there."

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Instead, he coached his 3’s Company team against Julius Erving’s Tri-State team. Erving, who is an NBA Hall of Famer, talked about playing basketball in Philadelphia at the event.

"Big3 is a new concept but it's an old story," Erving said. "It's about playing ball the way we all learned how to play ball out in the playground, like the playgrounds all around Philadelphia."

During the pre-game introductions, Iverson addressed the Philadelphia crowd and told them what it meant to him to have played in the city for years.

"I'm glad I had a chance to come back home," Iverson said. "Ain't nothing like this relationship we have. I love you for supporting me throughout my career and still today you're still supporting me."

Fans Austin Hendricks and Sarah Pasetsky traveled about an hour to Philadelphia from their Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania home. They spoke with USA Today about Iverson's decision not to play.

"Shut — no!" Hendricks told USA Today during the game. "Why isn’t he playing?"

"This is like a joke, right? Pasetsky said. "Then he’ll come out."

Fans were apparently enthused to watch Iverson and his team face off against fellow Philadelphia 76ers legend Erving and his team. Robert Lawson, an Iverson fan, discussed what the 42-year-old player meant to Philidelphia.

"He just brought it every night. We appreciated it." Lawson told USA Today Sunday. "We knew that when he stepped on this court, he was bringing it every night."

He added, "He’s been through his troubles and trials and tribulations. He came to Philly. He knew what he was going through personally when he got to this city and saw how we’re a hard-working community."

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Fox Sports 1 broadcaster Jim Jackson also touched on how Iverson's presence impacted the Big3 league.

"His presence alone, even just being a coach, has magnified what this league is all about and energized this league," Jackson told USA Today. "Of course, it’d be great if he could play more. But I think we even internally have to keep our realistic expectations to a minimum and let Allen get into a place, mentally and physically, where he can perform his best."

The 42-year-old player coach hasn’t played much during the Big3 tournament. He recorded six points on 3-for-13 shooting in the first three games before he decided to sit this one out.

Co-founder of the event Ice Cube took to Twitter Monday and shared his sentiment.

"A.I. not playing was disappointing to everybody, including myself," Cube wrote. "Doctors told him not to get out of bed and he came anyway. Sad but true."