Imp’t Former Sixer Update

Here’s something that will shock you if you’ve come to town since 2001: Back then, the Sixers were the most popular team in town. It’s almost hard to imagine it now, but, yes, that’s true. The Eagles were still coming out of their horrid late-90s funk — which included a 3-13 season in 1998 — while the Phillies stunk. Also, there was a hockey team playing to 99.9% capacity.

But the 76ers were the team on everyone’s mind in ‘01, when they rallied from deficits in their first three playoff series before dropping the NBA Finals in five games to the Lakers. (If they had just made some free throws… oh, let’s not get into it.)

Anyway, ShamSports.com has an update on Jumaine Jones, one of the 2001 Sixers’ players.

Jumaine Jones was suspended from European basketball for a year in September by FIBA, for the weird yet wonderful crime of signing contracts with two different teams at the same time; one with [Armani Jeans Milano], and one with Ural Great Perm in Russia. However, he’s been playing for the greatly named Great Perm anyway, averaging 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in Russian league play.

Great Perm! If only NBA teams had awesome nicknames like the two teams Jones signed with, it’d be a lot more popular. Oh, wait, I forgot, it’s basketball is our new national pastime, thanks to Barack Obama, says noted sports experts Reason magazine.

Where are they now, 2009, part 28 [ShamSports.com via TrueHoop]