haʊˈɛvɚɹ ɪt wˈʌzn̩t lˈɔŋ bᵻfˌoːɹ hˈɑːpsən ɹᵻtˈɜːnd tə ðə ɡˈeɪm, ɐsˈuːmɪŋ ðə dˈuːɾiz æz hˈɛd kˈoʊtʃ ʌvðɪ ˌeɪbˌiːˈeɪz tɑːlˈiːdoʊ ɹˈɔɪəl nˈaɪts ʌntˈɪl ðə tˈiːm fˈoʊldᵻd ɪn dᵻsˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks.
However it wasn't long before Hopson returned to the game, assuming the duties as head coach of the ABA's Toledo Royal Knights until the team folded in December 2006.