Allen Iverson Calls BIG3 Debut 'Exciting,' Talks Playing Only 9 Minutes

The old Allen Iverson who consistently left helpless defenders in his wake with a deadly crossover was nowhere to be found during Sunday's BIG3 action, but it didn't stop him from calling the debut of Ice Cube's three-on-three league "exciting all throughout." 

Iverson's comments came after he led his team to victory as a player-coach, per the Associated Press (h/t USA Today). He was more coach than player considering he was on the court for a total of nine minutes, and the 42-year-old suggested that will be the case more often than not:

"I signed up to be a coach, player and captain. Coach part is going to go on throughout the game. Playing part is not going to be what you expect. You're not going to see the Allen Iverson of old out there."

The Iverson of old wasn't there, but plenty of people still showed up to the Barclays Center.

According to the AP, more than 15,000 fans were in attendance as Iverson's 3's Company handled the Ball Hogs 61-51. Elsewhere, the 3 Headed Monsters beat the Ghost Ballers 62-60 on Rashard Lewis' game-winning and-1, the Clyde Drexler-coached Power beat the Julius Erving-coached Tri-State 62-58 and Al Harrington scored 25 points as his Trilogy beat the Killer 3s 60-45.

The games were played to 60 with quirks such as a four-point shot and hand checking, and the winners required to win by at least two points.

"Sky's the limit," Iverson said. "Obviously you see the debut. I didn't even expect it to be like this, and then obviously guys that's retired now, to see the outcome of this situation right here, probably are going to get that itch."

He didn't seem particularly ready to scratch the itch with only nine minutes of playing time, but he still landed an opening win.