The 25th anniversary of the Eastern Conference championship! The 76ers invited Iverson and other 2001 members to attend the celebration and the classic mascot returned

On October 15th, there is still one week left before the start of the new NBA regular season. The 76ers officially announced that in order to commemorate the Eastern Conference championship team that reached the Finals in the 2000-01 season, the team will hold a special reunion night at home against the Pelicans on January 31, local time. At the same time, the team’s classic mascot speed bunny “Hip-Hop” will return in the new season!

In the 2000-01 season, Iverson was elected the regular season MVP, Mutombo was elected the best defensive player, and Aaron McGee was elected the best sixth man. Iverson, Mutombo, and Ratliff were also selected to the All-Star team. In the playoffs that season, the 76ers went all the way to win the Eastern Conference championship, and gave the Lakers their only defeat in the playoffs that season in the finals. However, they lost 1-4 to their opponents and missed the championship.

In order to pay tribute to this team, the 76ers invited the players and coaching staff of that year to return to Philadelphia. Tribute sessions will be arranged before the game, during the game and at halftime to pay tribute to the team known for its "tenacity, passion and belief". The main members of that 76ers team that year were: coach Larry Brown, Iverson, Mutombo (died of brain cancer on September 30, 2024, at the age of 58), Ratliff, Aaron McGee, Eric Snow, Dillon Hill, George Lynch, Toni Kukoc and others.

In addition, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the team's 2001 Eastern Conference championship, the team's former mascot Speed ​​Bunny "Hip-Hop" will return in some games in the new season, appearing together with the current mascot Franklin the puppy. "Hip-Hop" was the 76ers' mascot from January 15, 1998 to November 22, 2011. It was a rabbit-like character who usually performed trampoline acrobatic dunks during games. He also had a little assistant, "Little Hip-Hop." "Hip Hop" is played by Bill Rotter, a former member of the U.S. men's artistic gymnastics national team who won 1 gold and 2 silver medals at the 1995 Pan American Games. "Little Hip Hop" is played by his daughter. In 2011, the new owner of the 76ers decided to change the team mascot, and "Hip-Hop" did not return to the team after the lockout. In February 2015, the 76ers confirmed the current mascot, Franklin the puppy.

In the past few seasons, the 76ers have been plagued by injuries that have led to poor performance. Can they bottom out and rebound under the stimulation and inspiration of the 2001 76ers team? Let’s wait and see!