Supposedly, there are rumblings that the NBA needs to change its logo. The Undefeated has made a game of potential silhouettes to replace Jerry West; naturally being The Undefeated, ten of them are black guys, and then Larry Bird, almost like an obligation to option out a non-black guy as to not seem too obvious. But the question I really have is, why?? Why change the NBA logo? There’s nothing at all wrong with it!
This isn’t like the Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves or any other sports team name that triggers white guilt and is always in the conversation of needing to be changed because they’re construed as offensive. This isn’t like the Vietnamese skin care center that uses a logo that’s too infringe-y to an existing copyright and needs to be changed, so people don’t mistake them as manufacturers of zombie serum. Or this isn’t like, Wendy’s, whose prior wild western-looking type face made their brand look as old as the era in which the font best represents.
The NBA logo is an icon in itself, and has no need for change, especially for no good reason other than the sake of change. It doesn’t help when Jerry West, the alleged basis of the silhouette in the logo is all white-guilty and is clamoring for a change as well, but thankfully the NBA themselves continues to deny it as to deny leverage to West.
But really, there’s no need for change. What for? MLB has never changed their logo, and you better fucking believe that the NFL isn’t going to change their logo. Stability and longevity is what gives strength to logos, and the NBA would be flushing 70+ years of tradition and history down the toilet because the world feels like change should occur on some basis other than never, for everything, including long standing identities and brands.
Brands that want to last and thrive know how to commit and stick with something for the long haul. The NBA changing their logo for no real good reason is a stupid idea, and I hope they never actually do it.
