Timberwolves Primary Logo
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been a part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 1989, and over the years they have had several different logos. The primary logo for the team has gone through many changes, each one reflecting a new era in their history.
The original logo was created when the franchise first joined NBA in 1989. It featured an abstract design with two wolves howling at a basketball-shaped moon set against a backdrop of snow-covered trees and mountains. This logo lasted until 1996 when it was changed to reflect more modern sensibilities; this version featured two timberwolves standing side by side facing forward while holding up an outline of Minnesota’s state shape between them with stars inside representing Minneapolis and St Paul respectively.
In 2008, another redesign took place which saw both wolves replaced by just one wolf head looking forward as if ready to pounce on its prey – this time there were no other elements included except for some text around it saying “Minnesota Timberwolves” along with “Established 1989” underneath that same font size but slightly smaller than before. This is still currently used today as well as various alternate designs based on it such as throwback versions or ones featuring special events like All-Star Weekend or Pride Month celebrations etcetera; however, all these iterations always keep true to that iconic single wolf head motif which now serves not only symbolize strength but also loyalty towards their fans across generations!
2017 - Present
The logo has many nods to Minnesota, the team and, of course, the Timberwolf.
There’s the North Star which represents one of the pillars Minnesota hangs its hat on. The star represents Minnesota pride.
The new logo represents looking forward and carving out new territory. The open mouth with the teeth showing represents the fierce .energy of not just one Wolf, but a collective unit. To show aggression and fearlessness to the future. The green of the eyes is a nod to the green that surrounds the state whether that be through Northern Lights, reflection of ice crystals in the winter or the flourishing of buds of trees in the spring.
The primarily colors include midnight blue, aurora green, lake blue, moonlight grey and frost white.
“From the motion and vibrant hues of the Northern Lights, to the depths and reflections of a midnight forest, to the rich contrasts of this great frozen city of the north, the palette is the perfect representation of modern sport colors inspired by the story of Minnesota’s landscape,” Richardson said. “It’s color with a sense of place.”
For Richardson, he loves how the logo is simple, yet intense. The logo was designed by Rodney Richardson of RARE Design.
2009 - 2017
The modification to the Timberwolves primary logo includes the incorporation of white on the wolf’s face as well as a cleaner and sleeker design of the green with black outline tree line and the wordmark “MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES.”
1997 - 2008
The 1996 season saw the introduction of a new Timberwolves logo. In the new team logo, the wolf looks far more menacing with his mouth open, looking out from a stand of evergreen trees over a wordmark “TIMBERWOLVES” in blue with white trim and “MINNESOTA” in silver.
1990 - 1996
It was a Minnesota native who submitted the wolf that Club President Bob Stein described as “aggressive, but not sinister.” Mark Thompson, a professional artist originally from Austin, Minnesota. The original Timberwolves logo is a wolf inside a green circle on a grey with blue outline basketball. A wordmark “TIMBERWOLVES” in blue and “Minnesota” on top in green script.
