Sixers team with Ubiq for Nikes exclusively for celebrity fans
Will Kendall get a pair?
![Kendall Jenner, who is reportedly dating the Sixers' Ben Simmons, watches from the sideline during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. The Sixers lost 117-115.](https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/bZ68tHJ03ZD1-xhnaTZlKQbprE4=/760x507/smart/filters:format(webp)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/BDOZIUMA2JCP3MMSJXSBSVU46Q.jpg)
If you’ve been looking for a good pair of 76ers-themed Nikes, keep looking. You’re almost certainly not on the list for these.
In honor of the team’s final regular season game, the Sixers collaborated with clothing store UBIQ for an extremely limited edition “Phila Unite” Air Jordan 1 model shoe, according to Sneaker Bar Detroit. There are 10 pairs in total, and they reportedly will be distributed to some of the team’s celebrity fans. A spokesperson from UBIQ said the company will offer one pair of the shoes to a fan on Instagram soon.
Featuring the Sixers’ usual red, white, and blue uniform colorway, the sneakers are constructed using white snakeskin material on the toe and trademark Nike swoosh, as well as white leather on the tongue. Under the swoosh, history buffs may note, is a depiction of Benjamin Franklin’s “Join, or Die” segmented snake political cartoon, which the famed Philadelphian first published at the start of the French and Indian War in 1754.
So far, one of the few celebs spotted wearing the shoes in public has been Sixers point guard Ben Simmons, who was seen in the kicks prior to yesterday’s game. Another is Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who posted a photo of the shoes to his Instagram story. Carson Wentz shared a photo of his pair on Twitter. For sneakerheads, that means there could be as many as seven pairs floating around waiting for other famous Sixers fans to take their pick.
No word about who else will be receiving a pair, but the Sixers do count quite a few celebrities among their fanbase. Among the most notable fans: Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Philly-born comedian Kevin Hart, Philly rapper Meek Mill, and, of course, Simmons’ beau, Kendall Jenner (even though she’s an Adidas spokeswoman, and would likely keep her pair under wraps). Even comedian Bill Burr is a fan of the team’s old-school lineups, as he told the Inquirer in 2015.
The Sixers last night defeated the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center 125-109. The team will next tip off against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in their first post season matchup.