On November 1, 1996, a 10-year-old kid walked into the CoreStates Center amazed, as were all the opposite intrigued and excited Philadelphia 76ers fans. Tickets obtained from a family friend not only allowed the North Philadelphia team to attend their first game on the Sixers’ recent arena, but, more importantly, allowed the debut of heralded rookie Allen Iverson.

The Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the evening, beating the Sixers 111-103 despite Iverson’s 30 points and 6 assists. Seeing Iverson dominate amongst NBA giants at just 6-foot-4 allowed the child to dream of playing in the NBA even deeper.

Now, 28 years later, Kyle Lowry is playing in the identical arena as Sixer.

“I had a guy, Robert Taylor. Good guy. He was buying us some scalped tickets,” Lowry told Andscape in March. – I still have that coin. It’s probably somewhere in my mom’s house without delay, together with other things. But they handed out this commemorative coin to rejoice the opening of what is now the Wells Fargo Center.

“I was in awe of the guy (Iverson) who was so small (dominant). And I didn’t know then that he was tall because I was a little child. But seeing him be able to do what he did in the premiere and just go out there with Stack (Jerry Stackhouse) was crazy. It was good for me. It was fun to watch.”

On Tuesday night, Lowry and his Sixers hope to maintain their season alive in Game 5 of their first-round series against the host New York Knicks. The Knicks lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Time will tell if this is also Lowry’s last game with the Sixers. The former Villanova University star averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 assists and three.2 rebounds for the Sixers this season after signing as a free agent for the remaining of the season for $2.8 million on February 14. Lowry reunited with his former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 NBA Championship.

Below is a Q&A with Lowry, who talks about what it means to wear a Sixers jersey, how he was in a position to acquire his beloved number 7 from teammate Mo Bamba, being mentored by NBA All-Star teammate Tyrese Maxey, the impact Sixers star Joel Embiid, if healthy, could have the importance of being the NBA’s fourth-oldest player and far more.

Is playing on your house court the very last thing you should check in your NBA profession?

This was a box I never thought I’d check. I all the time wanted this, but I never thought it will occur. And while you grow up, you say, “Oh…” I said no once I was younger. I desired to do it a number of years ago once I was still in great shape and had the chance to come back back. But Toronto was the correct situation for me. So (I re-signed) back to Toronto and (going to Philadelphia) just didn’t work out. But I feel now is the proper time to be here, especially with Tyrese and an emerging superstar (Embiid). So for me it was a blessing in disguise that I used to be in a position to help this child and be around him.

How did you’re feeling while you first placed on a Sixers jersey?

The first time it was crazy. You represent your name, Lowry. You represent your loved ones. You represent everyone. You represent your city. That’s pretty cool.

How did you turn out to be a Sixers fan?

My mom. My brother. I’m sure everyone was a Sixers fan. They loved Dr. J (Julius Erving), Armen Gilliam, Charles Barkley. I used to be a fan of Dana Barros. It’s coming back for some time. You had to observe them on (sports TV channel) PRISM. Only Philadelphians know what it is. I watched as many games as I could, NBC games each time I could. They were never really on NBC because they were never any good for some time. But any probability I had to observe it, I’d.

Who influenced you probably the most in basketball?

Artificial intelligence has been one in all my biggest influences in basketball. My brother needless to say. But in the NBA, in fact, all of us liked Michael Jordan back then.

Do you remember the primary game you played in as an NBA player in Philadelphia?

Yes, I feel I purchased 75 tickets. I feel it was my second 12 months in Memphis in the league. I purchased seventy-five tickets. Yes, it was big money for me back then. But I made sure everyone was there. I’m blissful they got to see me play. I do not remember what I did in that match, but I doubt we won. We didn’t win many games in Memphis back then. But it was good. It was a cool experience.

How did you mentor Maxey?

It’s just experience. I’m talking with him. Keep him on his toes in the case of doing things on each side. Making sure he won’t be satisfied with being a one-way guy. I all the time desired to be a two-sided guy. Making sure he leads in every way… But he has a lot talent and skill. Who he is is contagious. And you could have to reap the benefits of it.

What’s the perfect thing about being at home and what’s the most important challenge?

It’s not a challenge anymore. I’ve all the time been in a position to say no, in order that’s easy. You need to bring something unique to town that hasn’t been there for a very long time. So it is a challenge, which is good. I need to get to the purpose where we hold the (championship) trophy. The better part is which you can represent your city that you just grew up watching.

When you arrived in Philadelphia, Mo Bamba was wearing number 7. How did you get your longtime number back?

It’s been my number for a while. I appreciate you, Mo Bamba. I paid for it (by donating to the Mo Bamba Foundation). I can not inform you how much I paid for it, but in that respect he is a beautiful gentleman. It was an exceptional thing for me to do for his charity. This is big for me. He didn’t handle himself. Cool.

(Bamba’s charity is) amazing. He sent me the brochure and I said, “Bet it.” This is cool.’ Listen, I even have many brothers from there (Africa). (Oklahoma City Thunder center) Bismack Biyombo is doing an unbelievable job. (Former NBA player) Serge (Ibaka) is doing an ideal job. Mo has done many great things for his country (parents) (Côte d’Ivoire). (Raptors president) Masai (Ujiri) of The Giants of Africa. It’s a lovely thing to have the chance to assist and represent Black people and their culture.

Your wife and two sons are still in South Florida, where you played for the Miami Heat earlier this season. What’s it wish to be away from them?

This is the toughest part. I can not see my children day by day. It was difficult. But dad supports them and so they understand that. They still watch the games, support you and love you. So they understand what dad’s job is. That’s the best thing about it. They understand. They are mature enough to grasp it.

They have been with me all over the place (during my NBA profession)… So this is the primary time without them. But they’re older and already settled down. That’s why my children are a very powerful to me. We have FaceTime. I’m just checking in. I’m trying to observe their games. Download videos.

How good can the Sixers be with a healthy Embiid?

We are really good. There are some guys who may be MVP and he is one in all them. There are some guys in this league who may be MVP yearly. He is one in all them. If you add him back to any team, you may know what you may get. Dominant, special power.

The Sixers have not won an NBA title since 1983. What would it not mean to you to be a part of a championship team with the Sixers? How crazy would you act on the Championship Parade in Philadelphia?

I would not act like a madman in any respect. Maybe I won’t even go. I could just sit and wait on stage and revel in the moment on stage. It would mean the identical thing for Philadelphia because it did for Toronto once I was there. I used to be there in 2001 when the Sixers made it to the Finals. I wasn’t born yet the last time we won. But it was 1983. Yes, I do know the date. I’m a basketball historian.

What’s it wish to be the fourth-oldest player in the NBA, which has about 450 players?

I told LeBron (James) that we’ve got to maintain our finger on the heartbeat of the older people. It’s great to maintain giving, playing and representing the boys. I’ve been playing for 3 many years.

The star power of University of Colorado at Boulder quarterback Shedeur Sanders was evident when he showed up at a pop-up event at University Hill in Colorado on April 27. He sold his clothing brand there worth almost $15,000, Legendary SS2.

Deion Sanders’ son arrived at the $100,000 Tesla Cyberbeast event to a waiting crowd able to spend time with him and buy merchandise from his clothing line. He was scheduled to be at Peckish, a chicken wing restaurant, for 3 hours, and a few fans waited an hour for him to indicate up. He spent over 90 minutes there.

“The one thing he understands is he needs to connect with people,” said Sanders’ business partner, Bam Hogue. “He has to deal with people. He doesn’t just deal with social media. It’s about meeting people in real life and getting to know your followers.”

On3 reported that Shedder’s NIL (name, image and likeness) valuation is $4.6 million, making him the No. 1 amongst college athletes. He also has 1.8 million followers on Instagram.

At the pop-up, fans could purchase $40 T-shirts ($60 for long sleeves), $80 hoodies and soccer jerseys, $40 trucker hats and $10 wristbands, amongst other items. Hogue mentioned that Shedeur has a licensing agreement with the University of Colorado Boulder. By using the varsity’s logo, they must pay about 12% royalties on all the pieces they sell.

The moment wasn’t lost as cameramen filmed the event and fans were asked to sign releases for perhaps a third season of the series to seem on Amazon Prime video.

More pop-ups are planned as Shedeur prepares for his final collegiate season. If he continues to play at the extent he has shown over the previous couple of seasons, he will probably be chosen in the primary round of the NFL draft in 2025.

I used to be born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and was a Chicago Bears fan until I used to be 18. Everything modified after I was 19. Not only did I resign the Bears, I renounced the fandom altogether and decided to grow to be a hired sports journalist with no emotional ties.

More on this later.

However, my younger brother Girard kept his faith and stays a loyal fan of Chicago sports teams, especially the Chicago Bears. He is a die-hard fan, and like many Bears fans, my brother has been over the moon since April 25, when the Bears signed quarterback Caleb Williams, a player some call the messiah. Fans are highly hopeful that 22-year-old Williams will lead the team from frustration to stardom.

“I feel like this is a new time for the Bears,” my brother told me on Sunday morning from his home in Germany, where he has lived and worked since 1989 as an opera singer. “I think there are a lot of positive things happening for the Bears.”

Girard and I actually have been talking about the Bears for a really very long time. Every Monday during the season, my brother laments lost leads, late-game losses, and surprising victories. For the past two seasons, talk has focused on Justin Fields, the recently departed quarterback who was drafted by the previous Bears regime in 2021. In March, after months of speculation, the Bears traded Fields to Pittsburgh, where he’ll compete with Russell Wilson for the starting title work.

My brother believes Fields is in a significantly better situation in Pittsburgh, and Williams – due to changes in the Bears front office and training staff – is in a significantly better situation in Chicago than Fields in 2021.

He emphasized that in 2017 the so-called brain trust Bears passed on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to draft Mitchell Trubisky.

“If Mahomes had come to Chicago back then instead of Trubisky, I don’t think we would have ever heard of Mahomes,” he said.

My brother, ever the optimist, believed in Fields. I used to be an agnostic, but I did throw some shade at the young quarterback because I enjoyed watching a Bears fan’s frustration after yet one more quarterback failure. “Justin Fields is playing on a much better team in Pittsburgh now than when he came to Chicago, and Caleb Williams will be in a much better situation than Fields,” he said.

It is true that the Bears have not had a terrific quarterback since Sid Luckman, who played for the Bears from 1939-1950 and led the team to 4 NFL titles from 1940-1946. Since then, there was a parade of quarterbacks, some higher than others, although only two have led the Bears to the Super Bowl.

In 1985, the Bears won the championship under Jim McMahon, who wasn’t stiff, but handed it over to Walter Payton, one in every of the best running backs in NFL history. Those 1985 Bears also had what some say was the best defense in NFL history.

“Jay Cutler was the last talented Bears quarterback,” Girard said. Cutler played for the Bears from 2009-2016. He leads the franchise in passing yards, passing yards, touchdowns, attempts and completions, but has no championships. Not close.

“He had a really good set of receivers,” Girard jogged my memory. “He’s the last successful Bear quarterback.”

Rex Grossman was the starting quarterback when the Bears reached the Super Bowl in the 2006 season and lost to the Indianapolis Colts. The game was notable since it was the first time two Black coaches – Tony Dungy of the Colts and Lovie Smith of the Bears – faced one another in the Super Bowl.

Grossman barely talks about the Bears’ great quarterbacks.

“McMahon had charisma, swagger and several division titles,” my brother said. – He may not have been a terrific quarterback, but he did his job.

My brother believes McMahon was the last Bears quarterback “to have the mystique and aura of winning.”

That is, until Williams.

Williams involves the party with credentials and glitter. He is a Heisman Trophy winner and an NIL-era quarterback who decides the fate of the team himself. At least it does for now. Williams spoke to the media at the NFL game but didn’t practice, work out or take part in the dog-and-pony show for the 32 NFL teams.

“I’m not being romantic and I’m not picking the Bears for the Super Bowl, but I just think it’s a good situation,” Girard said.

Beyond Williams, there is a deeper story about fandom and attachment. There is a spirit of hope that enables fans like my brother to make an emotional investment of their teams.

I withdrew from investing, but there was a time after I cared about it.

I used to be 13 years old on December 29, 1963, when the Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants to win the NFL championship. This was a much-needed healing tonic for the Rhoden family. My mother died of breast cancer in August 1963. Her death ripped an enormous hole in our family and left my father a 44-year-old widower with a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son (me) and my 7-year-old little brother.

The Bears’ 1963 championship was a welcome distraction.

Girard doesn’t remember much about the Bears’ championship – he celebrated his eighth birthday five days earlier. He would must wait, wait and wait. And wait until he did, never losing faith.

The Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985. Girard lived in San Francisco, doing what singers do, working on his craft and waiting for a break. By 1985, I had long since fallen off the fan train.

I bounced back for good in the tumultuous yr of 1968. The assassination of activist Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights protest, the Black Power movement, and the Vietnam War made sports fandom appear to be an opiate, a distraction. Deeper evaluation by journalists revealed that many skilled and college sports teams were guilty of racism. In 1968, Gale Sayers, the Bears’ great young running back, blew out his knee. Athletes were pieces of meat, treated like cattle by team owners who had an iron fist over the players. This is a degree that one in every of my favorite players, center fielder Curt Flood, made when he accepted MLB’s reserve clause.

Who had time to grow to be a fan?

Now I root for issues and individuals. I care about Bears general manager Ryan Poles succeeding because I’m old-fashioned enough to imagine that when one black man does well, the community advantages. Poles is a former player whose job is to make the Bears competitive.

As fans, Girard and Chicago Bears Nation encourage Poles because they need the Bears to be relevant and competitive. “My hope is not just for Caleb Williams, but also for the general manager and what he has been able to accomplish,” Girard said.

As a hired sports author, I used to be only excited by the stories I wrote, the individuals who read them, the athletes and the issues I wrote about – no loyalty to the team. The downside to being a hired sports author is that sometimes I do not appreciate how much the people we call fans care. My brother is very concerned about this. “When I was a kid, when the Bears lost, I just had a bad day,” he said. “It doesn’t happen anymore, but I just love rooting for them and I enjoy the struggles they went through – constantly losing to Green Bay.”

In 1989, he moved permanently to Germany, starting his opera profession. His devotion to the Bears has never waned and has only grown stronger.

“Being a Chicago Bears fan has strengthened my connection to the place I grew up in,” he said. “It’s something you can keep alive at least once a week during football season.”

After a Super Bowl appearance in 2007, the Bears made the playoffs once in 11 years. Bears fans like my brother have had one disappointment after one other with a string of quarterbacks, some good, others higher than adequate: Kyle Orton, Cutler. The Bears traded for Trubisky in 2017 and chosen Fields in 2021.

Bears fans know this story all too well. I mention it in moments of wonder, only to ask why it is going to be different this time.

“We learned a number of things from Justin Fields. We learned that you could’t herald a brand new man and expect him to be the messiah,” Girard said. “You have to have a really solid foundation. We don’t expect him to do it alone.”

Fans of the movement in hope. They work this manner: when it rains, they see the sun, when it is sunny, they see the monsoon.

Now the Bears are telling fans they finally have their guy. Williams is the franchise’s newest dream salesperson. He can be the one to steer frustrated Bears fans to the promised land. Williams is the best potential point guard they’ve drafted in franchise history.

I remind my brother that the Bears have finished in the bottom half of the NFL in scoring in 25 of the last 31 seasons. Girard jogs my memory that last season, the Poles received winger DJ Moore from the Carolina Panthers, who in March exchanged for Pro Bowl winger Keenan Allen. On April 25, the Bears took over Washington winger Rome Odunze with the ninth pick in the draft.

The only thing I can say to my brother is what I at all times say: “Keep the faith.”

He at all times does it.