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Who is the NBA logo?

Jerry West NBA logo (via M CJasnoor)

The famous NBA logo is Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers legend.

The NBA logo is the most recognizable logo in the sports world. It features a white silhouette splitting a red and blue background, matching the colors of the American flag. West’s body is slightly curved and bent in the logo, making you wonder what move he’s making with the ball. West is actually dribbling the basketball past a defender, who appears to be The Big O, Oscar Robertson. I’ve tried many times to mimic the NBA logo pose, and I’m sure you have, too.

While it’s universally agreed that Jerry West, nicknamed The Logo, is the silhouette, the NBA has never confirmed this. Former NBA commissioner David Stern, through a spokesperson, said “there’s no record of it here,” (via the LA Times) regarding Jerry West being the logo.

West spoke to NBA.com about the being the logo:

“I can’t escape it because every morning when I get up and put these on,” he says, meaning a pair of NBA-issued socks, “it’s staring at me.”

“It almost feels like I have to apologize for that symbol,” he said recently. “It’s not fun.”

It’s a great honor for West to be the NBA’s silhouette, but also a burden, knowing basketball has created greater players, and that list is dominated by Black players.

Who Created the NBA Logo?

Alan Siegel designed the NBA logo in 1969. Of the 40-50 designs Siegel created, all featured West. What more proof do you need than from the NBA logo designer himself.

So why won’t the NBA confirm Jerry West as the logo? They want the logo to represent the game and not a specific player. As a silhouette, you can insert anyone, even the guy dribbling in his backyard.

Siegel on the NBA’s position of a nameless NBA logo:

“It’s become such a ubiquitous, classic symbol and focal point of their identity and their licensing program that they don’t necessarily want to identify it with one player.” (LA Times, H/T Mental Floss)

Fun fact: Alan Siegel created the MLB logo. The NBA requested he design the NBA logo based on his Major League Baseball design. ( via NBA.com)

Should the NBA Logo Be Changed to a New Player?

Over the last few years, there have been calls to update the NBA logo to Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan or the Los Angeles Lakers’ own Kobe Bryant. Jordan’s Air Jordan symbol is world famous, and he is regarded as arguably the greatest NBA player of all time (along with LeBron James).

Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality has made him an iconic figured in the basketball world and sports world at large. He’s inspired the new generation, including Kyrie Irving, who called for the Mamba update to the logo.

Jordan and Kobe have won more than West and are greater, so Jordan NBA logo and Kobe Bryant NBA logo would be fitting updates.

However, if the NBA has never acknowledged West as the logo, and they won’t commit to modeling a new NBA logo after any player.

Jerry West Was a Beast at the Shooting Guard Position

Jerry West was no slouch, though. He averaged 26 points in the 1968-69 NBA season and a career-high 31.2 points in the 1969-70 season. He was the NBA scoring champion in that 1969-70 NBA season. West is the only player in NBA history to win an NBA Finals MVP for the losing team. You have to be a beast to pull that off.

The Logo’s stats increased or remained steady in the NBA playoffs – the true sign of an NBA great. Jerry West would finish his career with the following accolades:

Regular season: 27 points on 47.4% FG, 5.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 81% FT

NBA Playoffs: 29.1 points on 46.9% FG, 5.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 80.5% FT