Sixers fans show their excitement at Xfinity’s NBA Tip-Off event: ‘This year is going to be really special’

Walking down Walnut Street on Thursday, it would be hard to miss the purple cable placer truck parked in the middle of the road outside the Xfinity store. It would be even harder to miss the hundreds of fans that swarmed the area, surrounding the truck with an adjustable basketball court attached to the crane.

And in the middle of that crowd was Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey.

With Franklin the Dog looking on, the 25-year-old dribbled the ball once and took a shot on the unique court before going inside the store to host a meet-and-greet at Xfinity’s NBA Tip-Off fan celebration.

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“The city is really excited for the Sixers,” said Alex Nguyen, a 34-year-old New Jersey native. “I haven’t seen them this excited in a long time. So, I thought this was a cool event and they said Tyrese Maxey was going to show up so it would be a cool chance to try to meet him today.”

There’s already been a lot of excitement surrounding the Sixers. The team had a successful offseason under new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who traded for Jaylen Brown and signed all-time great LeBron James to a two-year, $8 million contract.

“I think that this year is going to be really special,” Paige Mullen, a 22-year-old Harrisburg native, said. “And again, having the city’s support and the energy behind it, I think that they can go a long way. I think [the Sixers being the savior of the city] might be the narrative this year. And I’m not complaining, I’ll take it.”

Even Maxey has noticed a difference in fan reception this season compared to other years.

“Yeah, I think this season is going to be remarkable, honestly,” Maxey said. “I think we’ve done a good job at just trying to put a team together who can compete at the highest level. And I think the connectivity that we all have, everybody will be able to see it and the fans will really enjoy it.”

The latest acquisitions have made the Sixers a true title contender. The team features former league MVP Joel Embiid, rising star VJ Edgecombe, five-time NBA All-Star Brown, two-time NBA All-Star Maxey, and 22-time All-Star James. Many fans are thinking this year is championship or bust.

“We got LeBron for two years,” said 18-year-old Drexel student Aiden Plummer. “But, I still think it’s this year that we got to get it.”

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James is the NBA’s all-time leader in points and games played, a four-time MVP, a four-time champion, and a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA. But what version of James will be on display this season?

“We’re going to see a smart LeBron, an older LeBron, a wise LeBron,” Dwayne Warren, a 42-year-old West Philly native, said. “A LeBron that’s going to take over whenever we need him.”

Nguyen added: “Probably more of a facilitator role. I don’t think he’s really going to need to score as much as he has in the past. I think he’s going to be able to rely on the young guys like Maxey, Jaylen Brown, we’ll see what we get with Embiid. But I think he could lead the league in assists this year.”

The team’s talent left some fans questioning who they would want with the ball in their hands with the game on the line.

“You can’t go wrong,” said Vinnie Bean, a 30-year-old New Jersey native. “You really can’t. It’s just a flip of a coin, honestly. Give me J.B., give me Bron, Maxey. I can’t even pick and that’s such a good problem to have. I never would have thought we would have a team like this. It’s a dream.”

The Sixers season starts on Tuesday as the team prepares to travel to Madison Square Garden to compete against the defending champions, the New York Knicks. Ahead of the game, the Knicks will raise their championship banner and receive their rings. Sixers fans are hoping to spoil the fun.

“I think we will take this game,” said 47-year-old Philly native Vermor Morino. “Guaranteed, we will take this game.”

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To continue the excitement for the Sixers’ season, there are more events fans can attend ahead of the season opener.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, the Dunkin’, located on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, will be turning into a team-themed pep rally, featuring appearances by Franklin, 76ers ENT, and the Dunkin’ mascot. There will also be a themed drink, the “Slam Dunkalatte,” at participating locations in the Greater Philadelphia area.

During the Sixers’ season opener against the New York Knicks on Oct. 20, Stateside Live! will host a free fan fest. Admission is free but fans are encouraged to RSVP ahead of time. Doors open at 6 p.m. as the game tips off at 7:30 p.m.