Depending on who you are, a few images might come to mind when you think of the NBA (The National Basketball Association). You might think of Michael Jordon doing a fadeaway shot or Lebron James throwing the chalk in the air per his pregame ritual. However, there may be a different image that springs to your mind.
Thinking of the NBA might bring the image of a red, white, and blue silhouette to mind. This logo is one of the most famous and iconic logos ever. After all, when it comes to logos such as these that you know will be seen and used by millions, it puts a lot of pressure on creators to create irreplaceable logos that will stand the test of time. Along with the NFL and MLB, the NBA is one of the country’s most popular sports organizations.
This meant the NBA logo had to have a profound and significant meaning while remaining visually appealing. Since the NBA logo checks all the essential boxes, it’s only natural to wonder what got the logo to the point we see today. Let’s look at the history of the NBA logo and all the important components of it.
1950–1953: The First Logo
The original NBA logo drastically differed from the logo we associate with the organization today. This was introduced by the NBS and was composed of a circular emblem that showed the entire basketball in white. The logo showed the “National Basketball Association” in red, with the middle word significant and centered and the first and third words toward the top and bottom. Two curved arched stitches were shown in light green, and the letters were curved against them. Besides red letters and green stitches, the ball was entirely white, with the letters written in all uppercase letters. This logo was the one that first started the organization and played an essential part in molding the organization into an iconic aspect. The logo stayed with the organization for three years, long enough to make it memorable and a signature component for the brand.
1953–1962: The Logo Was Changed
The organization decided it was time for a change three years after the original logo was created.
They redesigned the logo, creating a red basketball with white lettering. This time, the lettering was shortened to only show “NBA,” which was shown slightly diagonally.
The letters were shown toward the bottom of the basketball in a strict and clean font, still in all uppercase.
The basketball emblem was displayed on a white background, boldly standing out and causing the colors and lettering.
1962–1969: A Grey Basketball
The previous logo lasted longer than the first, staying with the organization for over eight years.
However, in 1962, the company decided it was time for another change, this time deciding that a color change was necessary.
The basketball was shown this time but appeared whiter, almost grey. The organization still chose to keep the lettering, showcasing them in black and having them come diagonally from the top left to the bottom right corner.
It was shown in the middle of the basketball, with black stitching at the top and bottom of the ball.
This change seemed positive for the association, and they kept it for seven years.
1969–2017: The Red, White and Blue Logo
1969 marked the year that the famous vertical NBA badge was introduced. This iconic change completely overhauled the previous logo, and the organization decided it was time for a new look.
They decided to add new elements and colors, creating a rectangle emblem with rounded edges. The left part of the symbol is shown in blue, and the right part is in red, with a white silhouette in the middle.
The white silhouette showed a stylized image of legendary NBA player Jerry West. The letters “NBA” were shown in white and uppercase in the left bottom corner of the design, creating a cohesive and stylish logo. The emblem stayed with the organization completely untouched until 2017, the longest-lasting logo for the brand yet.
2017–Present: The Logo Today
In 2017 the logo received the slightest adjustment, with only the lettering changing. The letters featured thinner lines and narrower letters. This time, the letters had cleaner contours and distinct cuts that boldly stood out and shaped the individual letters.
This ensured that each letter stood out and was shaped distinctively. Besides this, every aspect of the design stayed the same, leaving it the same as the logo that is so familiar today. This logo is so iconically associated with the organization today and appears on all the marketing material for the NBA.
This logo is instantly recognizable and memorable in millions of people’s minds, creating an iconic aspect of the organization.
Who Designed The Logo?
We may know the famous logo, but who created the iconic symbol we’ve grown to love and associate with the organization? That would be Alan Siegel, the founder of Siegel+Gale, a branding company. Siegel was hired to create the current NBA logo in 1969, and at this time, the organization was facing pressure from the ABA (American Basketball Association), their rival.
During this time, the NBA was facing difficulty with their rival and reputation, and there was competition for attention. This need for change prompted the organization to rebrand and come out of the competition for attention victorious.
Siegel was granted the responsibility of creating this rebrand, and he executed it perfectly. The NBA commissioner, Walter Kennedy, chose Siegel after seeing the previous work the designer had done for the MLB. He had created a similar logo for the organization, and Kennedy knew they needed something that would achieve the same success for the NBA.
Siegel knew that the NBA logo would need a player’s silhouette, but the hard part was finding the right photo to use for it. After searching for photos, Siegel finally came across a photo of one of the most iconic players, Jerry West, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
When Siegel found the photo of Jerry West, he immediately knew that this was the one that should be used for the NBA logo, as it checked all the boxes necessary. The photo captured not only the elements necessary for a silhouette but also the essence of basketball. The photograph was graceful and fluid in movement, a shot easily identifiable as basketball and all it encompassed. Moreover, the photograph was one of a player he liked.
However, while creating the logo and even for years after the logo was created, Siegel didn’t discuss what player the silhouette was created from.
Jerry West
Jerry West is known as one of the greatest guards in NBA history, with a deadly jump shot and a menace on the defense field like never before. West played for the Los Angeles Lakers for fourteen years, and during this time, he became one of the most famous basketball players of all time, breaking records and earning fans with every game he played.
In his youth, West worked long hours practicing his shot and quick release, which started to mold him into the iconic and famous player he became. As he improved with time, West quickly drew the attention of colleges when his high school earned a state championship. He went on to become a sharpshooting guard for West Virginia University. West was named All-American twice in 1959 and 1960, and he became the school’s all-time leading rebounder and scorer.
In the 1960 NBA draft, the Lakers drafted West as the second overall pick. West was an instant success within the Lakers, with a career scoring average of 27.0 points per game, and was named an All-Star in every one of his 14 seasons in the league.
West was known on the court for his obsessive perfectionism and uncompromising drive to win every game he played, feared by his components and loved by his fans. He retired in 1974 after a dominating and famous career. He served as a head coach for the Lakers for three seasons from 1976 to 1979.
During this period, West was at the head of the team as they had 145 wins and 101 losses. He spent another three years as a scout for the Lakers before becoming the team’s general manager. He continued with different roles in the NBA until 2017. Being featured on the NBA logo was the greatest and most significant testament to the West, where his legacy would permanently live and become a famous trademark for the NBA.
However, West was shy and hated attention, and being placed on the logo provided him with much unwanted attention. Although there wasn’t a record that West’s image was the one behind the logo silhouette, the player said that he always knew the design was based on his image.
Although he was flattered to be chosen for the iconic logo, he was also embarrassed. Choosing the logo brought much attention, and West was embarrassed by it. West slowly became known as “Mr. Logo,” no longer recognized for his achievements and hard work on and off the court.
West hated that he was reduced to only a single image and not recognized for his career. However, with time, West was able to move past this but has said that he still believes the logo inspiration should be changed.
A Future Redesign
When Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest NBA players of all time, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020, many people thought the NBA would redesign their logo. They assumed that, after Bryant tragically passed away, the NBA would choose to honor his legacy by changing the logo.
The idea was popular on social media for a period, even to the point that Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, supported the idea. Unfortunately, the idea never gained traction, even with all the social media support.
Many think that there are two reasons why the NBA won’t replace West with Bryant on the logo. The first is that Bryant was involved in a sexual assault case, and even though he was never found guilty, this would be a less-than-ideal look for the organization.
The second reason is simple: the logo has been with the organization for over half a century. The symbol has become one with the NBA, and changing it would cost the NBA greatly.
Besides, why change a logo that’s working so well?
Conclusion
Overall, the NBA logo is iconic and instantly recognizable. The logo has all the memorable aspects that make it important and checks all the necessary boxes for an iconic symbol.
However, the NBA logo didn’t start as the iconic blue, red, and white emblem we associate with today’s organization.
It started as a rough version that developed, step by step, into the logo we see today. Above, we discussed the history of the familiar logo, the designer behind the famous logo, and Jerry West, the iconic player in the logo. Throughout this, we can see exactly how the symbol developed into the iconic logo displayed on all NBA branding and how it got to where we see it now.
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