Who is the nba logo? This NBA logo, the one we all know, came into existence in 1969 when the league sought to establish a visual identity that would resonate with fans. Alan Siegel, a prominent designer, and CEO of Siegelvision, a brand identity consultancy, was commissioned to create a logo that embodied the essence of the game.

Siegel drew inspiration from a photograph of the iconic Jerry West, then a superstar player for the Los Angeles Lakers, captured mid-dribble. The silhouette of West, dribbling with precision and grace, became the foundation for the NBA logo.

Jerry West: A Basketball Legend

Jerry West, born on May 28, 1938, in Chelyan, West Virginia, rose to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. Playing predominantly for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960 to 1974, West left an indelible mark on the sport. Nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to perform under pressure, West’s exceptional skills as a shooter, playmaker, and defender made him a force to be reckoned with.

Throughout his illustrious career, West achieved numerous accolades. He was a 14-time NBA All-Star, a two-time NBA scoring champion, and earned the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite his team’s loss to the Boston Celtics. West’s passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the sport made him a revered figure both on and off the court.

NBA Logo’s Evolution

The NBA logo featuring Jerry West’s silhouette has remained largely unchanged since its creation. However, there have been occasional discussions and debates surrounding its potential alteration. Some argue that a new logo is needed to represent the evolving NBA, while others believe that the existing logo has become an iconic symbol that should be preserved.

Despite the occasional debates, the NBA logo, with its sleek design and connection to Jerry West, has become an integral part of basketball culture. It is instantly recognizable and universally associated with the sport. Players and fans alike embrace the logo as a representation of the league’s history, excellence, and the values it upholds.

NBA logo Cultural Significance

The NBA logo has transcended the confines of basketball and has become a cultural icon. It is prominently displayed on merchandise, apparel, and arenas, serving as a badge of honor for teams and fans. The logo’s popularity has been further fueled by the growth of the league and the globalization of basketball.

Moreover, the NBA logo has inspired countless aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams. The image of Jerry West’s silhouette embodies the ideals of perseverance, skill, and sportsmanship, serving as a reminder that greatness can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

A leader by example after a difficult childhood

West’s story is replete with adversity, the least of which are the battles he lost against the Celtics. The fifth of six siblings, he was abused by his father as a child, and had to sleep with a gun underneath his pillow out of fear that he might have to kill him in self-defence. An aggressive child to begin with, he became a shy, introspective boy when his brother, David, died in the Korean War in 1951. It was a moment in West’s life that had a profound impact on him.

A weak, scrawny child who needed vitamin injections, he didn’t have the look of a future NBA star; indeed, he was initially reluctant to take part in organised team sport because he feared suffering a serious injury.

Scarred by the abuse suffered at the hands of his father and the death of his brother, which both significantly influenced his personality, he began slowly taking shape as a player at his high school in East Bank, West Virginia, shaking off the difficulties caused by his slight stature to develop, through hard work, immense basketball abilities.

These included his renowned rebounding prowess and an extraordinary capacity for playing through the pain, as he showed at several points in his professional career.

His character, too: though a solitary individual, he led by example and set the standards in teams that always looked to him. In his first year at high school, he was named captain and inspired East Bank High School to the state championship on 24 March 1956, averaging 32.3 points per game.

This led the school to change its name to West Bank on 24 March every year in his honour, a tradition that remained in place until it closed in 1999. The influence his family still had on him persuaded him to go to college at the University of West Virginia, rejecting offers from 60 other candidates.

He spent four years with West Virginia, where he was a two-time All-American, was MVP in the NCAA Final Four in 1959 and had his number 44 shirt retired. His exploits earned him a place at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where he won gold alongside contemporaries such as Oscar Robertson, before making the jump to the NBA.

Chosen at number two in the Draft, he took his leadership to Los Angeles, moving far away from his family for the first time. That same year, he married Martha Jane Kane, with whom he had three children before the couple divorced 16 years later.

Who selected Jerry West to be the NBA’s logo?

In 1969, the NBA selected Alan Siegel to design the new NBA logo. Siegel had worked towards the making of the MLB (Major League Baseball) logo and the NBA wished that he would do the same for them. He has also designed logos for Dell, IBM, 3M, Girl Scouts, the US Air Force and several other iconic brands. Siegel is considered to be a guru in marketing and advertising.

Siegel started digging through thousands of archives to find the perfect logo. In 1969, the face of the NBA was Bill Russell, who had just come off winning 11 NBA championships. However, Siegel didn’t want to reward the best player since he knew this logo would exist long after the player was gone. He pored through the photographs and found Jerry West in an LA Lakers jersey and that was his final decision.

He chose West to be the logo, not because he was a superstar, but because he liked the image. Siegel said in a recent interview

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