Allen Iverson Skips Big3 Basketball Game, League To Investigate Absence

Allen Iverson unexpectedly skipped his Big3 basketball game in Dallas and the league is investigating why. The three-on-three tournament’s biggest star didn't show up for a game scheduled at the American Airlines Center Sunday. Iverson is a player, coach and captain of his team, 3’s Company.

READ: Allen Iverson Disappoints Philadelphia Fans During Big3 Homecoming Game

3's Company beat team Power, sans Iverson. The team’s co-captain, Demarr Johnson, picked up the coaching duties.

The Big3 league released an official statement Sunday, citing an investigation into Iverson’s unexpected absence. The league said it would release another statement after it gathered all the facts relating to his non-appearance.

"We had no advance warning and do not have information as to all the circumstances surrounding his absence," the statement read. "The league is launching an investigation to gather all the facts and then will make an informed, official statement."

Iverson hasn’t played much during the Big3 tournament, appearing in only three of his team’s six games. He’s played a total of 27 minutes throughout the three games, scoring just six points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field.

The former Philadelphia 76ers star attended a game during Week 5 of the tournament in Chicago July 23, but he didn't play.

Iverson's Sunday absence wasn’t the first time he skipped a Big3 game. Earlier this month, Iverson decided not to play in Philadelphia, where he played 10-plus NBA seasons, citing health concerns.

Big3 received heavy blowback from fans disappointed by Iverson’s absence. The only warning came from Iverson himself, who posted a video to Instagram July 16, a half an hour before tip-off.

READ: Allen Iverson And Ice Cube's Big3 Basketball Head To Philadelphia, Look To Please Home Fans

After the game, league co-founder Ice Cube said he was disappointed about Iverson’s absence. He took to Twitter explaining that doctors advised Iverson not to play.

"A.I. not playing was disappointing to everybody, including myself. Doctors told him not to get out of bed and he came anyway. Sad but true," he wrote July 17.

Iverson talked about being a player coach in the league during a July 2 interview with USA Today. He noted that age would hinder him from performing like he used to.

"I think it’s important for the fans to know that I was all in for this thing to be a coach in it, then I just thought it would be a cool idea, me and Cube we talked about me getting on the floor a little bit," Iverson said.

"Obviously, you see that don’t sit too well with some of the fans because they want to see me play. I’m not Allen Iverson at 25 anymore. I’m 42 years old and have been away from the game for 6-7 years. For you to think you’re coming to see a game where Allen Iverson is ‘The Answer’ for real — for real, it’s not going to happen."

Iverson played in three games with the Memphis Grizzlies before they released him in 2009. He returned to the 76ers in 2010 and played 25 games. In his final NBA appearance, Feb. 20, he scored 13 points in a 32-point loss to the Chicago Bulls. Iverson played in Turkey during 2012, then joined a team in China for a brief stint.