It’s been an open secret that the 2001 Allen Iverson-era throwback uniforms were coming back for several seasons now. It’s overdue, with many fans eventually giving up all hope. However, if there was any lingering doubt that they weren’t coming back, it can now be put to rest. The Sixers’ social page debuted the render of the throwback court, which may or may not look familiar to longtime fans.
First impressions of the court are strong. It
carries several nods to the original design from the early 2000s. The “SIXERS” on both baselines uses the same iconic font that fans remember, and each side of the floor features the “76” logo with the star and swooping basketball placed in the corner.
That said, this isn’t a direct one-to-one recreation of the old court. The center-court logo has been enlarged significantly, and the swooping basketball near the elbows of the three-point line — a detail many fans loved — is noticeably absent. While it’s easy to assume that was the Sixers’ choice, it’s more likely the league had a say in the change, as the NBA tends to be particular about potential slipping hazards on non-In-Season Tournament courts.
Outside of the design changes, there are several color updates as well. Most noticeably, the area within the three-point arc now features a darker wood trim that was absent in the original design. The painted area has also changed significantly; the original had blue with red and black trim outlining the free-throw keys, whereas this version sticks to black with some red accents.
While it isn’t a direct copy of the original, it doesn’t need to be. Many franchises have brought back iconic jerseys or courts, modernizing them for the present day. For the most part, I think the Sixers did well here. My biggest criticism is the absence of the swooping basketballs — they should have been included. But again, that was likely a league mandate rather than a misstep by the Sixers.
For the most part, this is a gorgeous court that should pair beautifully with the remastered uniforms, which have yet to be officially debuted. Fans will have several opportunities to see the court in person throughout the season, the first of which comes on Nov. 8 against the Toronto Raptors.
