When it comes to iconic sports images, few match the energy of Kevin Garnett and Randy Moss’ legendary photoshoot from the early 2000s. The basketball in one hand, football in the other. The swapped jerseys, and that goldenrod background—it was a perfect snapshot of two Minnesota sports titans at the peak of their rise. Now, decades later, Alabama’s own Ryan Williams and Alabama’s star have recreated that iconic shot—and boy, the internet lost its mind.
On March 24, Alabama Crimson Tide’s diabolically talented rookie wideout Ryan Williams took to X via the official page of his podcast, New Wave Pod w/ Ryan Williams & Jaylen Mbakwe, and dropped a bombshell. The post? A spot-on recreation of the classic Garnett-Moss photo, this time featuring Williams and Alabama basketball guard Labaron Philon. Ryan Williams rocked the Alabama basketball jersey, while Philon, a rising force on the court, donned the Crimson Tide football threads like he’s WR1. Instantly, fans were buzzing, hyping up the moment as a perfect rep of Alabama’s dual dominance in football and basketball.
YOU KNOW WE HAD TO DO IT TO EM. @Ryanwms1 X @LabaronPhilon @AlabamaFTBL x @AlabamaMBB pic.twitter.com/5t6Zc1v6Id
— New Wave Pod w/ Ryan Williams & Jaylen Mbakwe (@TheNewWaveShow) March 24, 2025
Ain’t gonna lie, the parallels were too perfect. Back in the day, Moss and Garnett were in their early 20s when they took the sports world by storm—Moss tearing up the NFL with the Vikings, Garnett leading the Timberwolves to years of playoff runs. Now, Williams and Philon, both freshmen, are carving out their own legacies in the hometown of Tuscaloosa. And just like their predecessors, they carry that it factor, that Jalen Hurts got.
Ryan Williams is already a certified problem on the field. Despite Alabama’s 9-4 season and missing the playoffs, Williams went crazy in his freshman year, proving why he’s one of the most electrifying playmakers in college football. In 13 games, he hauled in 48 receptions for 865 yards—an absurd 18.0 yards per catch—along with 8 receiving touchdowns. But that’s not all. The man’s showed off his versatility with 48 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, and an additional 134 yards in kick and punt returns. In total? 1,047 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. Absolute menace.
Meanwhile, Labaron Philon came in hot for the Alabama basketball squad. Standing at 6’4” and weighing 177 pounds, the freshman guard from Mobile, Alabama wasted no time showing he’s got that dawg in him. Averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 45% from the field, Philon was a force. He really made noise in the NCAA Tournament, especially in the second-round matchup against Saint Mary’s on March 23, where he stuffed the stat sheet with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals in an 80-66 win. Bama, a No. 2 seed in the East Region, handled their business in March Madness, cruising past Robert Morris in the first round and now set to battle BYU in the Sweet 16 on March 27.
The Alabama faithful were on cloud nine, seeing two of their brightest young stars pay homage to a historic moment in sports culture.
The Bama nation went wild on the Internet after Ryan Williams dropped the iconic picture
Once Williams hit X with the caption, “YOU KNOW WE HAD TO DO IT TO EM. ” while tagging Alabama football, basketball, and Philon, the Bama fans lost it. The responses flooded in, hyping up the present while imagining the future of Alabama sports.
The fans started with, “No coincidence the faces of the Alabama football and basketball programs are both from Mobile, AL.” Alabama’s sports pipeline has always run deep, but seeing both Williams and Philon—two homegrown stars from Mobile—leading the football and basketball programs? That just hits different. Fans couldn’t help but appreciate the poetic symmetry of these two young kings repping their state on the biggest stage. Mobile stays producing generational athletes, and now they got two holding it down at Bama.
One fan summed it up perfectly: “Alabama truly is where legends are made.” This is more than just a motto—it’s reality. Alabama has been producing generational talent for decades. From Julio Jones to Derrick Henry, Collin Sexton to Brandon Miller, the Tide doesn’t just develop players—they craft legends, the Tide doesn’t just develop players—they craft legends. And now, with Williams and Philon stepping into the spotlight, that tradition continues.
One bama didn’t hold back, writing, “Hopefully, Philon being friends with Ryan will result in Philon coming back for another year!” With Philon balling out as a freshman in March Madness. Some fans are already worried he might be a one-and-done. But seeing him build chemistry with Williams? That’s giving Bama fans hope that he might stick around for another season. A duo like this running the show? Terrifying for the competition.
Another bama chimed in with, “So dope.” Sometimes, a moment just speaks for itself. No deep analysis, no over-the-top breakdowns—just straight-up admiration. The crossover, the execution, the history behind it… it’s just dope. Fans loved seeing young stars acknowledge the past while setting the stage for the future. The last fan tweeted: “Aura.” One word, but it says everything. The energy of this picture was next-level. It wasn’t just a tribute—it was a moment. These two got that aura. Big things are coming.
Look, end of the day, some pictures tell a story that words can’t fully capture. This Ryan Williams and Labaron Philon recreation of the iconic Kevin Garnett and Randy Moss shoot? It wasn’t just a flex. It was a glimpse into the next era of Alabama sports. Two freshmen. Two MVP-caliber stars. One legendary photo. And if this is just the beginning, Bama fans better buckle up—because the ride is about to get wild.
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