Shirt a Phobia

Sample Page

Hip-Hop during a Sixers game in February 2005

Hip-Hop was the mascot of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s Philadelphia 76ers. He served the primary mascot role from January 15, 1998 to November 22, 2011[1], and the secondary mascot for the 2025-26 season. A rabbit character, Hip-Hop usually entertained Sixers fans during halftime and time-outs by performing acrobatic slam dunks from a trampoline, often over an item or person, such as a motorcycle, a dancer, a fan, or a ladder. Hip-Hop also appeared at various Sixers publicity events and fundraisers.

Hip-Hop was portrayed by Bill Roth, a former United States men’s national artistic gymnastics team member who won a gold and two silver medals at the 1995 Pan American Games. Reprising the role in 2025-26, Roth was honored by the Sixers with a halftime tribute and framed Hip-Hop jersey during the team’s first throwback night of the season[2].

It was revealed Hip-Hop would not be returning under new Sixers ownership, occurring after the NBA 2011 lockout.[1] Hip-Hop was eventually replaced with Franklin, the Sixers’ current mascot, from February 2015 onward.[3]

It was reported and confirmed that Hip-Hop would be returning for select games and events throughout the 2025-26 season as part of the 2000-01 team’s 25th anniversary celebration, appearing alongside Franklin, who is characterized as being a close friend of Hip-Hop.[4] Hip-Hop later made his first appearance of the season on November 8th.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b “76ers’ next mascot: a Philly-inspired animal | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/22/2011”. www.philly.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  2. ^ a b Carroll, Gabriela (2025-11-09). “Bill Roth was ‘nervous’ before his return as Hip Hop. But Sixers fans — and Franklin — showed him the love”. Inquirer.com. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  3. ^ McQuade, Dan (2015-02-10). “Sixers Finally Introduce New Mascot, Franklin the Dog”. Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  4. ^ Simpson, Ariel (2025-11-07). “Sixers fans are ready to welcome back Hip Hop, an ‘iconic’ mascot who was ‘just as influential as Allen Iverson’“. Inquirer.com. Retrieved 2026-03-30.