By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
The Ice Cube-led, three-on-three basketball league, BIG3, will not return to Philadelphia for its second season.
The league announced its 2018 summer schedule on Monday, with the season opener slated for Houston on June 22, followed by appearances in Chicago, Oakland, Detroit, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas and lastly Brooklyn for the championship game on August 24.
#BIG3Season2 kicks off on June 22nd in Houston! Where will you see the BIG3 during Season 2? pic.twitter.com/xjugxbHowi
— BIG3 (@thebig3) March 12, 2018
The league, which attracts mostly retired NBA players, came to the Wells Fargo Center on July 16 in the fourth week of its inaugural season, and featured players such as Jerome Williams, Larry Hughes and Mike Bibby. Many stars were seen court-side at the game, including BIG3 coach Julius Erving, boxer Bernard Hopkins, rappers LL Cool J and IceCube, as well as Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith.
Fans mostly flocked to the arena, however, to see Philadelphia 76ers legendary guard Allen Iverson play once more in South Philadelphia.
Iverson, the player-coach and captain of one of the league's eight teams, 3's Company, did appear, but not in the fashion fans were hoping for. Just hours before tip-off, Iverson announced via social media that he would not be playing in the game, citing medical advice from his doctor. He did appear as a coach for his team, however. Iverson's 3's Company fell to Irving's Tri-State, 51-44.
Two weeks later on July 30, Iverson was at the center of BIG3 controversy again, which resulted in a suspension. The 11-time NBA All-Star neglected to notify the league that he would not appear at its game in Dallas. TMZ Sports reported that Iverson instead went to a casino in Chicago.
Iverson will return for season 2, but only as a coach. Drew Gooden, DerMarr Johnson and Baron Davis will serve as captains of 3's Company under coach Iverson.
Among the players signed up for BIG3's second season include: Quentin Richardson, Eddy Curry, Patrick O'Bryant, Will Bynum, Quinton Ross, Greg Oden, Jeremy Richardson, Jumaine Jones, Sean Williams, Marquis Daniels, Amar'e Stoudemire, Nate Robinson and Metta World Peace.