DeVonta Smith has worked his way up to becoming one of the Philadelphia Eagles standouts since the team drafted him in 2021. It’s clear how much the city of Philadelphia has resonated with Smith, as he decided to wear cleats that paid tribute to one of the city’s most legendary athletes: Allen Iverson.
DeVonta Smith Pays Homage to Allen Iverson
During the NFC Championship Game between the Eagles and Washington Commanders, Smith made an amazing toe-tap catch that garnered attention partly because of how impressive it was but also because Smith was wearing his Iverson cleats.
DeVonta Smith hauls it in! pic.twitter.com/DSQ27bABT8
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 26, 2025
Smith’s catch also played a role in what would later turn into a touchdown drive for the Eagles, which proved to be a drop in the bucket during a 55-point day against the Commanders.
This also is not the first time the Eagles’ wide receiver has worn such cleats, as he wore them during their game against the Los Angeles Rams. These are not called Allen Iverson cleats, but they are called “Eagles” Reebok Answer 4-inspired cleats.
This is in reference to Iverson’s well-known nickname “The Answer” which he was called when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996 to 2006, then again from 2009 to 2010.
Smith wearing these cleats indicates how much he respects both Iverson and Philadelphia sports history as a whole.
Iverson’s Legacy With Philadelphia
Iverson never won a title when he played in Philadelphia, but it was clear how much his influence resonated with the city from start to finish.
He is one of the few players in Sixers history to take home the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, and he helped guide the team to its last NBA Finals run in 2001. Indeed, the Sixers have not yet returned since, but Iverson cemented his status as a Philadelphia legend by making the finals and winning MVP in the same year.
That’s why they retired his numbers as soon as possible after his last year with the team and in the NBA. To this day, he is one of the most iconic athletes to ever play in Philadelphia.
Smith and the Eagles are chasing something similar to what Iverson and the Sixers did in 2001. Obviously, they want to go higher than the Sixers did in 2001 as they want to add another championship victory to the franchise and the city. One way they can do this is by channeling that same energy Iverson did when the Sixers went on the Cinderella run two and a half decades ago.