Fans spot incredible detail in new Philadelphia 76ers jerseys

NBA fans can be notoriously eagle-eyed, and that instinct was on full display after Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons showed off the team’s new jerseys on social media.

The Australian all-star debuted the team’s ‘City’ jerseys for next season, a series of jerseys each team will wear to reflect some aspect of the place they are located in.

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Philladelphia’s all-black kit with blue trim features an outline representation of the city’s iconic Boathouse Row - and also a hidden tribute to former general manager and cult hero among fans, Sam Hinkie.

Hinkie was GM of the 76ers from 2013 to 2016, during which time the team was purposely constructed to be less than competitive in order to land high draft picks - a strategy which ultimately yielded the team’s two biggest stars, Simmons and centre Joel Embiid.

Eventually fired as criticism of the team’s tanking reached a fever pitch, Hinkie’s plea with fans to ‘trust the process’ eventually morphed into a rallying cry for the team’s return to NBA relevancy.

And lo and behold, in the design of the new City jerseys is what appears to be the letters ‘TPP’.

No prizes for guess what that stands for.

Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson was drafted in to recreate an iconic cover shoot he did for SLAM Magazine in the early 2000s, when the team last wore black jerseys.

Iverson inspired the 76ers to a Finals appearance in the 2000/01 season, in which Philly lost to the LA Lakers.

“Back in black...!! I had mine, now you have yours @BenSimmons25...” Iverson posted on Twitter.

Celtics Hall of Famer Tom Heinsohn dies

Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics great Tom Heinsohn, who was involved in all 17 NBA titles won by the franchise, has died at the age of 86.

Heinsohn was with the Celtics as a player, coach and broadcaster for more than 60 years.

"This is a devastating loss," the team's owners said in a statement Tuesday.

"Tommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy's advice and insights and have revelled in his hundreds of stories about Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, and how the Celtics became a dynasty. He will be remembered forever."

A Holy Cross product who was a territorial draft pick by the Celtics in 1956, Heinsohn beat out teammate Russell for the NBA's rookie of the year award that season and tallied 39 points with 23 rebounds in Game 7 of the NBA finals against the St Louis Hawks.

It was the franchise's first title - and the first of eight in nine years for Heinsohn and Russell. Heinsohn was the team's leading scorer in four of the championship seasons.

Heinsohn retired in 1965 with totals of 12,194 points and 5,749 rebounds and remained with the team as a broadcaster. Celtics patriarch Auerbach tabbed him to be the coach in 1969, succeeding Russell.

Heinsohn was the NBA coach of the year in 1973, when the team won a then-record 68 games.

The Celtics added championships in 1974 and '76. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986 and as a coach in 2015.

Shortly after retiring as a coach in 1979, he rejoined the team's broadcasts, where his unapologetic homerism endeared him to Celtics fans ever since.

"It's hard to imagine the Boston Celtics without Tommy Heinsohn," the team said in a statement.

"There isn't a generation of Celtics fans for whom Tommy's presence hasn't been felt. He is the only person to be an active participant in each of the Celtics' 17 world championships, an extraordinary and singular legacy."

With AAP

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