The Sixers are one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. In their time as a franchise, the Sixers have seen various amounts of new threads with very different styles. The Sixers have been known to experiment when it comes to jersey changes, which has led some revolutionary jerseys, but also gave birth to this catastrophe:
Yeah, many people seem to forget about this time period for good reason. Let’s be thankful this hideous look lasted only three seasons.
Let’s go Sixers window shopping with a look into some of the best uniforms in Sixers History.
Next: 10. 2007-09 Alternates
10. 2007-09 Alternates
Before the ’07-08 season, the Sixers unveiled a new red alternate uniform. This uni saw the return of “PHILA” across the chest, mashed up with the “Iverson era” Sixers logo. These red uniforms also had blue trim at the bottom of each side of the shorts, as well as underneath the armpit and around the neck. There was also two thin white stripes that started around the neck, going down the back to the bottom of the shorts. The return of the classic red, white, and blue in an era that was represented by black and white was refreshing. This jersey wasn’t used often, but it showed the Sixers were on the path to create a more retro look.
Next: 9. 1965-66 Road Uniforms
9. 1965-66 Road Uniforms
The away look for the 1965-66 Sixers may have been ahead of its time. The organization went for a “futuristic” type look with these jerseys, while keeping the classic Sixers colors. The tight red tops sporting a futuristic font, with the oversized number sitting right above the “PHILA” logo. The uniform had different colored shorts, which was unusual at the time. The blue shorts had a white waistband while showcasing the alternate “76” logo which was circled by stars. The modern look wasn’t the most popular, but now looking retrospectively, we have to appreciate the ingenuity the designers showed in designing these colorful uniforms. The uniforms were certainly a great look, but were discontinued after their inaugural season because of complaints by the players claiming the uniforms were uncomfortable to play in.
Next: 8. 1971-76 Home Jerseys
8. 1971-76 Home Jerseys
The 70’s came along and as the world was drastically changing, so did the 76ers’ jerseys. This was the first time the jerseys showcased “Sixers” across the chest. The font that was chosen just screamed 70’s, but it actually works. The red coloring of the font mixes well with the thick blue numbers right below it. This also brought the introduction of the stars and stripes going down the side of the jerseys. The attention to detail to this jersey was incredible. The stars and stripes were interrupted by the red and white waistband on the shorts, which makes the uniforms look sharp, instead of overly vibrant. In an era that saw an abundance of bad uniforms, the Sixers found a way to adapt in a stylish way.
Next: 7. 1978-91 Home Jerseys
7. 1978-91 Home Jerseys
Simple is the way to go, and the Sixers went simple yet stylish when it came to their white home jerseys that was worn from 1978 up until 1991. These slick uniforms had white tops with “SIXERS” largely sown on the chest with blue lettering and a red outline. The large number underneath “SIXERS” is also blue with red outline. Simple, yet sophisticated, is the barely noticeable red, white, and blue trim around the neck and the arms. This jersey was also very popular because it is one of the few jerseys to have an emphasis on blue and white, instead of red. These jerseys are plain but have an amazing amount details that make it one of the greatest jerseys in franchise history.
Next: 6. 1997-2009 Alternate Blues
6. 1997-2009 Alternate Blues
The Sixers changed logos over to what is now known as the “Iverson Era” logo. The logo is “SIXERS” in large with a star over the “I” and the signature swoosh basketball underneath the writing. The logo was quite a drastic changed, and when the Sixers used it on their alternate blue jerseys a beautiful marriage was created. The jerseys were a royal blue with the logo on the chest and the number smartly placed near the left hip of the player. The number being offset takes doesn’t make the jersey seem crowded, even though the number is quite large. The red around the neck gives the jersey some flare, along with the red waistband on the shorts. The “76” logo over the star with the basketball swoop going across it is a nice touch on an otherwise plain pair of shorts. This was one of the better ways the Sixers tried to incorporate the old while focusing on the new.
Next: 5. 1966-70 Road Jerseys
5. 1966-70 Road Jerseys
The Sixers transitioned from flashy modern jerseys in ’65 into a more plain and straightforward jersey. The large emphasis on the red “PHILA” with white trim is what makes this jersey iconic. The white trim on the dark blue looks amazing and brings out everything else on the jersey. The white waistband and the white strip on the shorts leading to some more white trim on the bottom of the shorts adds some flashiness to make this jersey go from plain to tough looking. The Sixers sported this uni in its first championship run. This jersey represented the toughness of the city that supported this team through thick and thin.
Next: 4. 1965-66 Home Jerseys
4. 1965-66 Home Jerseys
The ’65 season’s road jerseys were brilliant, but they were no match to its home jersey counterparts. The incredible modernized look carried the oversized red numbers over a red “PHILA” lettering. The white chest is accompanied by a plain red midsection right below it. The white shorts with a white waistband with blue right underneath it. This jersey could fit into this era’s NBA and maybe that’s why it didn’t land as well in the 60’s. In fact, the Sixers have brought back this jersey on a couple of occasions during the 2003-04 season. This allowed the younger generation to really appreciate the futuristic look of the throwback jersey and even allowed them to purchase an Allen Iverson ’65-66 jersey. This great look in addition to exposure across multiple generation makes this one of the most popular Sixers’ throwback.
Next: 3. 2015-16 Sixers Road Uniform
3. 2015-16 Sixers Road Uniform
When you’re in the middle of a rebuild, every aspect of the franchise is key to the plan, and this includes the uniforms. The Sixers unveiled their new uniforms in June of 2015 and the reception of it has been great. The sleekest of the bunch seem to be the blue away jersey. With the resurgence of “PHILA” on the dark blue jerseys once again, accompanied by the a thick white stripe filled with thinner red stripes and blue stars running along both sides, the Sixers accomplished their goal of meshing together the uniforms of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. The shorts are also blue with the stars and stripes on in the same fashion as the jersey. The return of the circle of stars are evident on the front center of the waistband. The bottom left leg of the shorts include the retro white basketball “76ers” logo. These jerseys have really brought a refreshing look to a franchise trying to start over and start building a championship team. What better way to venture for championships than to do it with a new look?
Next: 2. 1997-2009 Road Uniforms
2. 1997-2009 Road Uniforms
When you have a superstar with an attitude, it’s time to create some threads with attitude as well. That is exactly what happened with Allen Iverson and the Sixers. When the “Iverson Era” logo made its appearance, the change to black uniforms almost seemed necessary. Much like the blue alternates, the logo is across the chest with an offset number right below it. The red trim around the neck and the arms keep it from being too plain, but doesn’t take away from the toughness of the jersey. When you think of any Iverson-led team you think of one attribute, intimidation. Almost always the underdogs, opponents were still intimidated by the scrappy Sixers, which the solid black jerseys attributed too. This time period showed a time where change in philosophy and look were different, but successful. Allen Iverson always stands out in the mind of Sixers fans and so does this jersey. This black jersey is a complete standout from the rest of the jerseys on this list. It’s different but lovable.
Next: 1. 1978-91 Road Uniforms
1. 1978-91 Road Uniforms
We’ve reached the greatest jersey in Sixers history, so it’s only fitting that the greatest jersey was worn during the greatest season (1982-83) in franchise history. But that isn’t the reason why they are considered the greatest. The iconic red jerseys had the white “SIXERS” logo and numbers with blue trimming. The rest of the jersey and the shorts are outlined by red, white, and blue trimming. The shorts also had a white waistband and included the white basketball “76ers” logo on the right leg. This jersey has ultimately become a hallmark in the franchise’s history, bring the memories of basketball glory back. The red jerseys were quite simple, but that is all they needed to be. Adding anything to this jersey would have been just like adding a blemish. Simplicity is sometimes perfection, and that’s what the Sixers created with this iconic jersey.
The importance of appearance to franchises are unimaginable. Whether it is completely changing a logo, or recreating a retro look, the greatness of jerseys are ultimately what appeals to the fans. The fans are the driving force behind every organizational decision, so if they fans don’t like it, they won’t buy it. The Sixers seem to continue to improve on the look of their jerseys, and will always be looking back at its predecessors for ideas.