They may not run the famed “picket fence,” but the Indiana Pacers will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Hoosiers” by wearing the film’s “Hickory” uniforms during select games next season.
The Pacers and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios announced the deal on Tuesday morning.
“Our team will be honored to wear the Hickory uniforms because of the attention it will bring to the storied history of Indiana basketball and the success of that movie,” Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said in a statement. “‘Hoosiers’ takes us all back to a special place and time.”
The film, which starred Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper, came out in 1986 and chronicled the run of tiny Milan High School to the 1954 Indiana state championship.
“Obviously, we revere the film, but more importantly we believe our organization, especially our players, embody the core message of the story — by coming together as a team, there is nothing that can’t be accomplished,” said Todd Taylor, a senior vice president for Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
The uniforms were modeled by Indiana native George Hill.
