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For years, Philadelphia 76ers fans have asked the franchise for just one, simple thing: the return of the iconic black jerseys that the organization wore in the late 1990s through the mid-2000s.
But for years, they’ve gotten crappy alternatives instead as the team’s “City Edition” jerseys.
Now it appears that the organization is ready to finally relent and give fans what they’ve been asking for.
Philadelphia released a lengthy video on social media Sunday night honoring the contract extension of All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey.
Maxey signed a five-year, $204 million max extension with the team that drafted him with the 21st pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Kentucky product flourished in 2023-24, making his first NBA All-Star Game and establishing himself as one of the league’s most dynamic offensive threats.
Perhaps even more important, Maxey waited to agree to his extension so that the Sixers would have the cap space to go out and sign Paul George in the offseason.
But back to jerseys.
At the 3:55 mark of the video, Julius Erving surprises Maxey by presenting him with one of the 90s and 2000s era jerseys with his name and number on the back.
This immediately sent fans into a frenzy.
“So this is a really cool thing the Sixers did for Maxey, and I don’t want to steal that thunder. But…well, use your eyes,” Kyle Neubeck of PHLY tweeted.
“WAIT ARE WE BRINGING THE BLACK JERSEYS BACK,” asked a fan.
But one eagle-eyed observer made a good point.
“The jersey they gave Maxey looks like it has the 2001 Finals patch on it so is it just a custom? Why tease us?,” @NBCsTheSlap tweeted.
The jersey Maxey was given appears to be a Mitchell & Ness custom.
Now, it’s possible Nike just doesn’t have jerseys made yet. The Sixers could well still use the iconic black jerseys as their new City Edition.
But it seems fans may have put the cart before the horse on this one.