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Hang Time Headquarters -- No one has come out and said it yet, at least not on the record, but this could be the end of the Allen Iverson era in the NBA.

The 76ers' All-Star guard (yes, he was an All-Star this season) is leaving the team once again to attend to his family; his daughter Messiah, 4, has been dealing with an undiagnosed illness.

"At this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Sixers, Allen and his family that he be allowed to deal with a very serious issue that is far greater than the game of basketball," 76ers boss Ed Stefanski said in a statement released by the team.

When Iverson parted ways with Hang Time's Grizzlies after nine games earlier this season, we suggested that he hang up his Reeboks for good, strictly for basketball reasons.

Obviously, this is a far more serious issue. But our suggestion remains the same.

As Stefanski said in his statement, there comes a time when something "far greater than the game of basketball" forces you to make choices about what to do in this life.

The 76ers have already wrapped their arms around Iverson leaving them for good this season. Yahoo! Sports reported earlier today that Eddie Jordan informed his team that Iverson would not join them on their three-game Western Conference road trip and that he might be gone for good.

Iverson's paid back everything the game of basketball has given him, with interest. Few have entertained and inspired as well as he did at his zenith. Short of a title, he accomplished virtually everything a man could in the game of basketball.

So if he leaves us for good now, if this is indeed his final act, he couldn't depart for a more noble cause than to take care of his young daughter and the rest of his family.