For years, the NBA logo has been synonymous with brilliance and excellence of the best basketball league in the world. The image depicts a left-handed player dribbling the ball, trying to make a drive. The logo has attributed in itself an elite status of making the NBA a global brand. Well, have you ever wondered who is the great basketballer who was the inspiration for this logo?
Well, the NBA logo is the silhouette of none other than the Los Angeles Lakers player, coach, and later general manager Jerry West. The logo was first designed in 1969 and is the third logo since the beginning of the league. In 2017, the logo underwent minor changes in the font of its text. In this article, let’s find out more about the history of this logo and the player the creators were inspired to create the same.
Who designed the NBA logo?
The NBA logo was designed by Alan Siegel, a brand consultant for the National Basketball League. According to Siegel, the logo tries to represent the fluid and free-flowing nature of basketball. The colors white, blue, and red represent the American flag, denoting that the league is from the United States.
Who is the player behind the NBA logo?
As Alan Siegel had said, the inspiration behind the NBA logo’s silhouette for him was Lakers player Jerry West. However, NBA officially has never confirmed that the logo is actually a silhouette of the former Lakers player and coach. Jerry West played for the Lakers from 1960 till 1974, after being selected as a second overall pick. He has won the 1972 NBA champion as a player and won eight championships between 1980 and 2017 as an executive for the franchise.
Currently, the league stakeholders are debating on whether the logo should be changed to that of Kobe Bryant’s. Jerry West himself does not mind being removed as the NBA logo, knowing very well this would be the most perfect way to honor Kobe’s legacy in the NBA.
