Sixers guards Ricky Council IV and Tyrese Maxey address the popular ‘socks on a boat’ photo

76ers guard Council gives his side of the story after a photo of him wearing socks on a boat went viral over the summer.

Did Ricky Council IV take his socks off while on a boat this summer? According to teammate Tyrese Maxey, he did not.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

by Ariel Simpson

Published Oct. 17, 2024, 5:48 p.m. ET

Undrafted guard Ricky Council IV made waves during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas — averaging 18.8 points on 36.8 percent shooting from the field, highlighted by his 29-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But when he wasn’t shining on the court, he was catching waves with his teammates. And instead of his shot being wet it was … his socks?

During the offseason, in a photo posted on the 76ers X account, Council was shown in Mexico with Tyrese Maxey posing on a boat. The main focus of the photo wasn’t the beautiful view behind them or even Maxey’s Cabo straw hat. Instead, it was Council’s blinding white socks.

Maxey himself couldn’t believe it. He reposted the photo poking fun at his teammates’ fashion choices.

“Socks on the boat is ridiculous,” Maxey wrote on X.

Now, we finally get both sides of the story behind the photo thanks to a follow up interview posted on the Sixers social media accounts.

“I already had socks on,” Council said. “I took my shoes off like they asked. And I went on about my day. I got in the water. Think I got in the water with my socks on? I did not. I got on a jet ski. I took my socks off … The pictures were before when I had my socks on.”

But according to Maxey, Council’s socks stayed on the entire time — including in the water.

“He didn’t take his socks off the whole time,” Maxey said. “I don’t know. It’s funny because I remember us getting on the boat and they were saying like, ‘Alright, leave your socks and your shoes right here.’ So, like, you know. He didn’t say nothing. He just kept his socks on.”

Council wasn’t too happy when he heard Maxey’s side of the story.

“That’s cap,” he responded. “They did not say that. Because I was, like, in front and I heard the man. He said take your shoes off. Why would he say take your socks off?”

While it’s still unclear who is telling the truth in this story, one thing is for certain, socks on a boat seems diabolical.