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In homage to the legendary Phi Slama Jama men's college basketball team from the University of Houston (UH) forty years ago, which was spearheaded by Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, the Houston Rockets are introducing their new City Edition uniforms this season, dubbed "Hometown Heroes."
"Familiar threads, reimagined," was how the Rockets introduced these uniforms on Nov. 2 via a tweet.
The careers of Olajuwon and Drexler did not end at UH; they later achieved significant success in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They reunited as part of the Rockets' roster in 1995 when the team was attempting to defend its title from the previous year. Although they could not secure a national championship for UH, they did lead the Rockets to consecutive titles. Drexler managed to achieve what had been an elusive accomplishment until then. The new jerseys feature both men's signatures on the jock tag, according to an NBA issued press release.
A blend of classic and contemporary elements characterizes these new uniforms. They mirror today's sleek NBA uniform style while also incorporating retro aspects. The predominantly white jerseys bear resemblance to those worn by Olajuwon and Drexler while they enthralled crowds at what was then known as Hofheinz Pavilion on UH's campus. The Rockets have announced that fans can now buy these jerseys and related merchandise.
The team is set to wear these jerseys in 13 upcoming games, with their debut scheduled for Nov. 8 against LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers squad as reported by Houston CBS affiliate KHOU News. These jerseys replace the Rocket’s Mixtape jerseys from previous seasons which were a tribute to the cartoon rocket era of the late 1990s and early 2000s.