The NBA is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. It showcases some of the best players in the world. The league has an incredible history and is responsible for some of the most remarkable moments in history. This has made it one of the world's most recognized leagues, and the logo has a lot to do with making it so memorable. While the NBA was founded in 1946, the logo we all know today was created in 1969, but since then, it has seen a lot of change as seasons pass. So, let's look at some of the more recent changes to the logo and how this affects fans.
The Original Logo
Where it all began before the famous logo that we all know today, the NBA saw a series of straightforward logos using the shape of the basketball as inspiration. This changed a few times dramatically for the first couple of decades. In 1969, the familiar silhouette of a player dribbling was created, which we all know today. The MLB-inspired logo was designed by Jerry Dior the year before. The commissioner of the NBA at the time, J. Walter Kennedy looked at the MLB logo and decided he wanted the same for the NBA. He enlisted the help of Alan Siegel, who was Dior's supervisor at the time for his help. The process of creating the iconic logo began. It involved contacting Sports Magazine's editor and reviewing their photo files. After considering many photos of various NBA players in several poses, Siegal finally settled on an image of Jerry West dribbling.
A Very Minor Change in 2017
The logo remained the same since it debuted in 1969. It wasn't until 2017 that a very minor change was made to the design. This change only involved a minor change, refining the logo's presentation to make it look cleaner with a more polished outline. Small changes like this are a common reason for a sports logo to change. This helped to make the logo look more modern and more aesthetically pleasing. This helped to make it more compatible with the latest technological updates, making the logo look cleaner on the screen and for print. This was essential, especially with high-definition broadcasts and social media.
Almost a Change in 2020
In 2020, the NBA almost saw a pretty significant change. After the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, there were serious talks of changing the logo to commemorate him and the successful career he had built before his untimely death. There was even an online movement called #KobeForLogo, which quickly gained traction online and on social media. The decision to change the logo was ultimately up to the commissioner, Adam Silver, who decided not to go forward with this change. He agreed with the public about how important Bryant was to the NBA and what the change would represent but explained that it was too soon after his death to make such a change as well as Jerry West stated that he would prefer if the logo remained unchanged, too. However, that's not to say the logo will never change, especially as fan involvement and feedback are now at an all-time high thanks to social media.
75th Celebration Temporary Logo Change
The 2021-22 season saw a temporary change to celebrate its 75th anniversary. This logo was still very similar to its original design but featured the number 75. This logo was used throughout the season, seen on promotional content, advertisements, and even on player jerseys. This logo was essentially a celebration of the NBA and everything that's happened, from the significant achievements to the talented players. It was welcomed by fans, too, who shared the new logo on social media and even purchased the limited-edition merchandise. While this wasn't a permanent change, many fans liked the temporary change, giving everyone the chance to celebrate the milestone together.
How Do These Changes Affect Fans?
The NBA logo is essential to many fans, and it represents the sport they love so much. This means change can either be welcomed or unwanted. For the NBA, in particular, a shift in the logo could cause much distress in fans since it's been the same for so long. It could also end up causing struggle, particularly when it comes to NBA merchandise and fans feeling as though they have to purchase updated merchandise because of a new logo. It could also cause a change in the business sector of the NBA with sponsorships, sports broadcasters, and even how different sportsbooks view the league. This could end up costing businesses a lot of money, as well as causing confusion to fans and viewers. However, some fans may argue that change is good. It allows the NBA to step into the future, modernizing the league. A change in logo could enable the NBA to represent the players today and how diverse the NBA is. Particularly now, as the NBA is home to basketball players worldwide, a logo could celebrate this. As the NBA grows even more, it will be interesting to see if the logo changes and whether or not it will stick to its iconic design or go down another path.
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