Bill Roth is stepping back into the spotlight and the rabbit suit as the Philadelphia 76ers revive their beloved mascot Hip-Hop on November 8, marking the 25th anniversary of the team’s 2001 NBA Finals run.
The 55-year-old former gymnast, who brought the energetic character to life from 1998 to 2011, will return to center court when the Sixers host the Toronto Raptors. The surprise revival was sparked by a visit from two team executives to Roth’s CrossPoint Gymnastics facility in Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania. The Sixers’ 25th anniversary celebration of their 2000-01 Eastern Conference champion team will include a familiar rabbit face. The team announced Monday night that Hip-Hop — the Sixers’ acrobatic, trampoline-dunking rabbit between 1998 and 2011 — will return during the 2025-26 season.
The Sixers will “pay tribute to Hip-Hop” at their Nov. 8 game vs. the Raptors and “specific game dates and activations with Hip-Hop will be announced throughout the season,” according to the team’s press release. Hip-Hop will team up with current mascot Franklin the Dog.
Kyle Lowry said the team should bring back Hip-Hop at media day. Lowry was a Philadelphia teenager during the Sixers’ 2000-01 run to the NBA Finals. He’s now entering his 20th NBA season.