It was epic, electric, and downright snowy. The Philadelphia Eagles marched their way into the NFC Championship Game after fending off the Los Angeles Rams on a frigid Sunday afternoon. The 28-22 victory had the City of Brotherly Love buzzing, and as expected, Philadelphia sports icon Allen Iverson was pumped for his home team. But that wasn’t the only thing grabbing AI’s attention.

For the high-stakes matchup, DeVonta Smith didn’t just bring his A-game—he brought style. The Eagles wideout paid homage to Iverson by sporting custom Reebok Answer 4-inspired cleats decked out in the Eagles’ signature green and white.

And yes, AI noticed. On Instagram, the 11× NBA All-Star couldn’t hide his excitement. “I see you young KILLA!! Thanks for the love @devontasmith,” Iverson posted. The heartfelt shoutout made waves, and Smith didn’t take it lightly, replying with a simple but powerful “✊🏾” emoji.

But Smith’s day wasn’t just about honoring a legend. It was also one for the history books. During the team’s 53rd playoff appearance, Smith became the Eagles’ all-time leader in postseason receiving yards. A crucial 2-yard grab late in the first half propelled him past Harold Carmichael’s 465-yard record from 1981, a milestone that had seemed untouchable until now. Earlier, Smith had tied the record on the Eagles’ second pass attempt with a quick 5-yard catch.

What’s more impressive? Smith achieved this feat in only seven playoff games, a span identical to Carmichael’s record-setting stretch decades ago. Since being drafted 10th overall in 2021, Smith has proven himself a cornerstone for the Eagles’ offense, consistently racking up over 1,000 receiving yards a season.

But this tribute is not the only thing that binds AI and Smith.

Devonta Smith is Eagles’ Allen Iverson

Back in 2021, just four games into his NFL career, Devonta Smith was already drawing comparisons to a Philadelphia legend. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t hold back, likening the young receiver to none other than Allen Iverson. But why Iverson? The answer is simple: their shared mastery of movement.

“Anytime I teach a wide receiver how to release off the line of scrimmage, I have an Allen Iverson clip ready to go,” Sirianni shared. “And because it’s very much like a crossover. So why was Allen Iverson good at the crossover? One thing—and you hear him say this all the time—is that he was fast, he was quick, and so people had to react to his first step. And so when he took that hard jab one way, they had to react to it because he was quick, and then he was able to go back the other way.”

And that’s where Smith comes in. Sirianni believes Smith’s speed and quickness make him just as unstoppable. “Because DeVonta’s fast and because he’s quick—he has a quick, fast release, first step—they have to react to when he jabs,” he explained. “And then the other thing on top of that is he’s making it a meaningful jab… he puts his head that way to really get them going and then he crosses them over how Allen Iverson used to do it. That’s what makes him so effective.”

And much like AI, Smith has the tools to become a Philly legend. With the Eagles just one game away from Super Bowl LIX, the pressure is on. Can Smith and the Eagles pull it off? Only time will tell.