Candis R. McLean
Okay, so they weren’t the AI era black uniforms that we all expected. For weeks, Sixers fans anticipated that the franchise was preparing to drop some throwback heat. Today, the organization released the 2020-21 City Edition jersey. There was no basketball swoosh or big star over the “i”, to the surprise of some. The team went in a completely different, and some would argue better, direction with the new Boathouse Row-themed jerseys.
The uniform is primarily black and hints at the unique glow of Boathouse Row at night.
2020-21 City Edition
𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.
Presented by @StubHub pic.twitter.com/nyE3gIuyZc
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 10, 2020
“We love telling stories through the 76ers brand, specifically of our great city and always honoring our history,” Philadelphia 76ers President Chris Heck said. “This year, we celebrate our city edition uniform by blending the old and the new specifically for the greatest fans in the world to enjoy.”
With the assistance of two-time All-Star and 2019-20 All-Defensive First Team selection Ben Simmons, the jersey’s design was in good hands. Simmons requested the team develop a black uniform in his rookie year. Heck offered Simmons a “deal” of sorts. If Simmons earned Rookie of the Year honors in the 2017-2018 season, he could have a say in the team’s uniform design process.
Simmons got his wish this year.
“Growing up in Australia, I always associated the 76ers with the black uniform that Allen Iverson wore in the early 2000s,” Simmons said. “I’m a lover of both fashion and basketball, so to combine the two and be part of the design process for the first black 76ers uniform in over a decade was amazing. “I’m grateful the team included me from the jump and can’t wait to wear this jersey next season.”
Simmons also said that he feels blue and red is “synonymous with the Sixers.”
And just like Philly, fans had good and bad reactions to the latest release.
They really put the Philadelphia Cream Cheese logo on the jerseys and thought we wouldn’t notice
— Jake (@JacobCourchesne) November 10, 2020
you’re telling me the Sixers absolutely fumbled a marketing rollout where they were teasing Allen Iverson left and right to make fans think they were getting the 2001 jerseys? Can’t believe it.
— shamus (@shamus_clancy) November 10, 2020
Sixers fans: the Iverson era showed the grit and passion of this city more than any other, and AI’s impact on the league’s fashion, attitude, and image cannot be understated
The Sixers: my nephew did crew at Penn
— Titus Anjawnicus (@jimadair3) November 10, 2020
Trust the Process pic.twitter.com/HIyfWPNRP0
— BL (@b_lines93) November 10, 2020
I love Boathouse Row. But if you're gonna do a skyline on a Sixers jersey … maybe, like, do the actual skyline?
— Sarah Baicker (@sbbaicker) November 10, 2020
I, for one, actually like the new sixers jerseys! pic.twitter.com/MKde3pUz2b
— Dan Craig (@Ohh_Danny_Boy) November 10, 2020
You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected].
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