The Tragic Fall of NBA Logos

The Tragic Fall of NBA Logos
The Tragic Fall of NBA Logos
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NBA logos are some of the most creative in all of professional sports, outside of minor league baseball at least. From the Toronto Raptors early days of a giant purple/red dinosaur that was far more ferocious than Barney, to the Denver Nuggets rainbow-infused skyline that sparked some of the best jerseys ever. There's traditionalists who never change a thing, the Chicago Bulls are the only team to never change their logo, and the undecided nature of teams like the Washington Wizards who can never quite nail down a color scheme. Retro NBA logos are also some the most used out of the four major sports leagues when it comes to jerseys, shirts and hats. You can find fiesta-themed San Antonio Spurs gear just as often as the more mellowed out silver and black that they wear today. NBA fans take pride in many of their team's old logos, and as each team rolls out another new look, the evolution of team logos throughout the years is an interesting process to witness.
NBA Logos Through the Years - Fansided
Allow me to set a scene for you real quick: It’s 2006, you’re a Raptors fan, it’s cold as hell because you’re stuck in Canada, and yet, you have a warm feeling in your heart. This feeling is being sparked by the fact that you know that your team has the best logo in the league, and even if Toronto will end up with a 27-55 record, you can always look down at the bottom right corner of your TV screen and stare at that logo until the pain of being ranked twelfth in the eastern conference slowly fades away.
This logo is perfect. Everything fits in place really well and nothing is crammed, it portrays a friendly character for people to identify with, and sports a really nice yet under-used color combination of red and purple: definitely a bold choice, but it works here.
When this objectively perfect logo was inevitably replaced by this dull, lifeless thing, it represented a change in both basketball culture and world culture as well. You see, the NBA’s design trends really just reflect the general design trends of everything around it. And, look around: the biggest change you’ll see in terms of design is a lack of personality and vibrance.
Modern art consists of solid colors and basic, abstract pieces. People prefer white walls in their homes instead of the ever-so-popular flower wallpapers that could once be found everywhere. People wear a lot less color nowadays - just in every part of culture, it rings true - personality & color are a thing of the past.
Take a look at one of my favorite old NBA logos: The Fort Wayne Pistons logo. From every technical point imaginable, this logo sucks. The color contrast is atrocious. These hands are inexplicably freaky, and there’s a Z in the middle of his chest. Remember, this is the Fort Wayne Pistons - they used to be called the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, but would eventually drop the
“Zollner” from their name, and didn’t bother to take off this massive Z on their mascot.
And yet, despite everything that’s so bad about this logo, I love it. I don’t care about the technicalities, the amount of personality put into this logo will make anybody smile.
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[@Zach2K]

All the new logos are so boring man 🤦‍♂️

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

Ikr I need some of those classic logos back 😣

[@Zach2K]

@@KOGOSTOMUS I also miss the pinstripes on jerseys too 😔

[@Mebe777]

Yes

[@hatred4humanity]

I honestly like the colorless 80s Celtics logo better, than the modern one.

[@ellaishawilson1904]

@@KOGOSTOMUSNO THEY NOT OLD AND NEW LOGOS ARE BETTER SO STOP PLAYING MAN IDC WAHT THE LOGO IS PERFECT CMON NOW ITS STUPID

[@nbarealtalker]

This is what I call quality content. And something that has long needed to be said. Please go all-in on sleeved jerseys as well.

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

I mean, the players don't seem to love the sleeved jerseys, but if they get a redesign there's potential there.

[@pikachuhutch234]

@@KOGOSTOMUS Why don’t you like the current GSW logo it represents the Bay Area.

[@86byrdman]

@@pikachuhutch234 Yes, the Warriors change made sense. Plus, when the Sonics moved to OKC to become the Thunder, the Warriors had to discontinue their Thunder logo and uniforms. Plus it made sense as they were moving into a new era when Lacob and Guber became the new owners. Also, the Warriors won titles with their current logo, so can't complain too much even though people are nostalgic off the Warriors Thunder logo mainly because of the We Believe year, and most of us Warrior fans grew up with that Warriors logo.

[@pikachuhutch234]

@@86byrdman Fitting how the Thunder left Seattle and then KD Left them back.

[@86byrdman]

@@pikachuhutch234 LOL. True. I never thought about that situation like that, but very ironic.

[@emmanuelmondesir1314]

Damn the old wizzard logo was NICE. The grizzlies logo just hurts so much, man. Even the name had fang swipes and the bear looked way more dangerous than on the current logo. Better color choice too.

[@caidendaniel4537]

Repent and believe in the Gosepl

[@PizzaBoy91]

The tin can logo is just creepy. The Piston logo with the horse is classic. Same thing with the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics, Suns, and Bulls logo. They are classic and thats why they don’t ever really change. Their are teams the downgrade like the Raptors, and Rockets. They should’ve just kept their early 2000s logo they were sick.

[@caidendaniel4537]

Repent and believe in the Gospel.

[@caidendaniel4537]

Unless you repent you will all likewise perish. - Luke 13:3

[@samanthabradley860]

Did you *really* have to badmouth the BULLS logo? The designer of that logo nailed it back in 1966 ffs! Now I get that the face on the logo isn't smiley but do you *seriously* think a bull is *supposed* to be smiley? I sure don't!

[@AwijoshSun]

At first I disagreed with this take, as I find a lot of the current designs to be technically sound, visually pleasing, and easily recognizable, three things you want in a logo. But they do lack soul, which does kinda defeat the purpose when building a 'culture' around a sports team. Maybe there's a middle ground somewhere? In some alternate universe there exists a well designed modern Piston's logo featuring the piston guy, joyfully crossing someone over.

[@easonbragg935]

As a graphic designer I totally agree! I think a big part is that modern design is subdued and subtle instead of loud and in your face as past designs have been. I think the raptors logo is clever with the claw marks transitioning into the basketball seems but it does lack the bombastic in your faceness that sports logos can have

[@brokensoul8390]

Whoever thought getting rid of the sword in the Cavs' logo would be a good idea should be FIRED. It was the only thing giving it a bit of personality.

[@night6724]

They still have the sword with the C as an alternate logo

[@morpeur]

Yes, thanks

[@Simple-zy8vz]

The classic logos were the best only a few logos are good like Celtics and mavericks

[@mattlee7210]

I thought I was the only one who noticed the dull logo changes,I enjoyed and appreciated the video!👍

[@lightschunk]

the raptors logo was beautiful.

[@night6724]

I will say this baseball is even worse. You don’t even get team names. Now it’s just a letter

[@rangorts]

They tried to minimalize their logos but they just ruined it 🤦‍♂

[@77GOD77]

But we all know that 2nd Hawks logo was the best one. The current one they have now is so trash lmao

[@PerryCoxPF93]

the one they have now is the 80s one. the best one was late 90s with black/red/gold color scheme

[@Mojo99]

I love ur vids dawg

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

🙏🙏 thank you man! I gotta a BIG one droppin tonight! 💪

[@RavinManiac]

My take on which old logos were better than the current: 90s Clippers Vancouver Grizzlies 90s Hornets Early 2000's Kings 90s Magic Early 2000s Nuggets 90s Raptors 90s Rockets 80s Sonics (Thunder) 90s Wizards

[@FL6K0]

Dude that's crazy literally every team I typed. Like literally!!! I knew I wasn't crazy! You only forgot 2000's 76ers! I wanted that blue Kyle Korver jersey so bad ! Now their jersey are trash...

[@RavinManiac]

@FL6K0 I agree with the AI era Sixers too! It was the quintessential 2000s jersey

[@itsjordandclay]

I think the basic logo works for classic team like The Lakers, Knicks, and Bulls. But teams like Wolves, Hornets, and Raptors used to have some creative cool logos, and they ruined them

[@DigitalDash-]

Some NBA teams do make the mascots center of attention. Benny (Bulls), Rocky (Nuggets), Bucks (Bucks), Hugo (Hornets), Raptor (Raptors).

[@Reefer-Rampage69]

Wonderful video with great points

[@yetimelly523]

Sacramento Condors Memphis Kings New Orleans Jazz Utah Mustangs Toronto Merlins

[@NormanOtterman]

I must have been the only one who always noticed the pelican in the Pelican and the Hornet in Charlotte’s logo, cuz I thought it was blatantly obvious. The current raptor logo isn’t awful imo.The old Wizards logo was better. And the Knicks have always had some variant of the Roundball logo for basically their entire existence and it’s too iconic. The Lakers logo is iconic, and with the abstract team name it would be quite hard to come up with a better logo and it wouldn’t be worth it anyways considering the team has had it for just over 50 years. I don’t see what the issue is with the current Bucks logo. I understand what they were trying to do with the Grizzlies logo, but in practice it didn’t totally manifest. The current Twolves logo is modified version of their previous secondary logo, which honestly looked better. For example the Thunder’s logo has nothing to do with thunder or storms whatsoever and is some bland abstract drawing. The Pistons logo doesn’t feature pistons. TLDR: Not all NBA logos are bad. Some are good, there are several logos that are simply way too iconic to change and have been associated with a history of winning and there would be no point to changing. Some logos are in fact trash. The overal state of NBA logos as a whole is a mixed bag.

[@elpws]

this shit had me crying thank you

[@RSTBKT]

personally, as a 76ers fan, I think our current logo is fine. And I think it has to do with how... its just "76ers". What I think is our team's strength are those amazing jersey colors. though Benjamin Franklin bouncing a basketball is pretty cool.

[@timkeen2273]

Great video! This needs a million views

[@peginsenspad]

The only modern NBA logo I like is the Warriors, since the logo contains the Golden Gate Bridge which is a landmark of San Fransisco, which the Warriors are based in.

[@NEOQEAVCs2]

The nuggets mountain logo is GOAT despite not having a character, like the 2nd best of the miner. Not like that lifeless pickaxe, they should have their title vetoed until they change that abomination

[@tricolore31]

Amazing video

[@PrimeTime399]

alot of the newer ones are better like the golden state logo is iconic

[@PUCKTHEGREATEST]

Amazing video.

[@NotGord]

I think the Celtics and Heat have the best logos.

[@hatred4humanity]

"Piss deer"? 😂

[@TheXenoBrosMC]

6:19 missed opportunity to say "lifeless and dull as detroit itself"

[@itsrelativ3967]

I miss the 96-2000 Houston Rockets logo

[@arleymassey2998]

The pistons guy is not made of buckets...he's made of pistons

[@PenguinNote67]

My biggest problem is ALL THE WORDMARKS! (Most) NHL and NFL teams do what NBA, MLB and MLS teams fail at. Make logos without wordmarks shoehorned in the design

[@araucanoraptorargentinus3973]

The 1990s-2000s logos were the best.

[@night6724]

Your video is inconsistent. You praise old logos for having more character but call many complain that the “new” logos lack character when half of them are either old logos are remakes of old logos. The knicks have basically had the same unchanged logo since the 1960s The warriors logo historically was Golden Gate Bridge before the 2000s redesign before reverting back to the Golden Gate Bridge logo The Hawks logo in the 80s was the current abstract once again they reverted back after the 2000s The bulls have literally never changed their logo. Why should a bull be smiling? Logos should be simple and easily readable. A lot of the cartoon characters just aren’t readable from afar. Plus some logos have great subtle details like the bucks logo having the chest pattern be an M and the antlers forming a basketball and the Wizards logo having the Washington monument also be a wand. The pistons again had the basketball and team name in the 80s and again reverted back to the classic logo Plus many of the late 90s redesigns were hated as being over the top. Also the Lakers old logo was literally just a basketball and team name. Oh boy putting the state logo is really something. And again lakers have had the same logo since the 60s

[@goofygooberya2number2]

Facts! we have to admit tho, the bulls logo is still a timeless classic.

[@ulyssesgonzalez7177]

He's got a point 👉💥

[@Tripixium]

I realize there was a lot of purple and turquoise in the NBA logos back then, like the Raptors, Pistons, Grizzlies, Kings, Bucks, and even the Spurs

[@deltais1]

You are absolutely right. The newer logos completely lack character or originality. The Clippers and the Wizards are particularly bad. The Nuggets logo is terrible as well. It’s ridiculous that they could come up with anything yet this is what they choose to do. There should be more emphasis on characters and mascots as well.

[@Hello-ge4yz]

Anyone who follows hockey knows NHL pulls off logos better than any other American sports league. Sure there are some bad ones, but the good ones are amazing. Colorado and Arizonas logos are iconic among hockey fans

[@retronerds6884]

I'll give you that but the old NBA logos where up there

[@lehoo6798]

I love classic Pittsburgh robo-penguin 🙂👌

[@inanotherperspecrive6973]

Ther should a nba Retro week where they play in oldshool Jerseys

[@user-vn8cl7uq3k]

actually I prefer the recent design

[@danilooliverio8289]

oversimplified logos: nba editon

[@SportsFan838]

Honestly this is why I love the Tampa Bay Buccaneers new logo. It's a mixture of intimidating and happy.

[@ShakShak1999]

Am I the only one that likes the current raptors logo no offense it's not better than the OG but at least something to just be simple and clear and have a good design

[@teanmace]

10:52 realest.

[@daviddyer3543]

I'd like to see Detroit bring back their Fort Wayne piston guy mascot for future games, maybe in classic...or a newer design that honours the original.

[@Peterbuilt200]

I think the new logos look great. Pretty much from 2000s to the 2010 are the best. (And the ones that changed in 2020s) But pretty much anything before that is kinda bad. (MY OPINION)

[@oblivion5390]

nba logos always went through a cycle of cartoonish logo to simplified logo.

[@applepie5846]

The nba send out a memo to all nba teams to create a circular logo, that was actually a thing that’s why all nba teams have a circular logo. More like an emblem, also all teams most include a basketball in their logo

[@quan144]

Grizzlies don't have a basketball in their logo

[@clydekimsey7503]

I agree with most of what you say, but I do prefer the newer Bucks logo

[@witheredsonic4362]

5:10 I Liked That Cavs Logo But There New One Is Garbage

[@SolarFlare824]

How original, a C!

[@rileykazama3145]

The current logo is ok but I love the old one better

[@aidanhutchinson-sh6hf]

Pistons logo went from top tier to mid so fast

[@ThatGuyMN]

It sounds like you're just talking about mascots. Logos aren't mascots. They're marketing. Logos are suppose to be simple, have good color balance, and use symbolism to tell you about the team and what they represent. Mascots are suppose to be big, bold and have large personalities and features. Personally, I'm all in on most of the newer logos. I like the new raptors logo. It's stylistic and easy to remember, while still looking fierce. The claw marks are subtle but they get the point across. I don't see what the complaint is. Yes, you don't have a cartoon bumblebee or a Raptor wearing sneakers anymore, because this isn't nickelodeon. This is suppose to be a threatening basketball team.

[@McFlakies]

Cause the Jazz logo is sooo threatening with their scary black music note

[@ThatGuyMN]

@@McFlakies I didn't say all the logos are GOOD. The whole concept of the "Utah Jazz" is already bad. They 100% should've changed the name during the move to Utah and made a better logo. That being said, their logo wouldn't magically be better if you made it a big goofy cartoon trumpet mascot or some shit. That's my main point.

[@McFlakies]

@@ThatGuyMN oh Alr that actually makes sense

[@THEWZRD1]

Maybe it's a good thing. I mean look at the city jerseys they are terrible

[@richardpunzalan4347]

@KOGOSTOMUS Toronto Ranptos is the worse logo it’s looks like a black and white water melon 🍉 #WETHEMELONS 😂 🍈

[@ehecatl6343]

NBA logos peaked in the 90s.

[@adamrenfrow]

The hawk face was there I the 80s and early 90s

[@morpeur]

Cavaliers is so sad

[@briahgraves7984]

get your facts right bc the logo for the Warriors is not a basketball, it's the Golden Gate Bridge

[@psychakilla]

Houston rockets and spurs should of never changed their logos. They weren’t outdated or bad they where simple and had personality(in my opinion)

[@cw4959]

Being back the raptor

[@FL6K0]

I'll even take the Charlotte Bobcats logos over any of these current ones!! It looks lazy. I could have made those and I am an amateur at graphics design and logos. Clearly im not the only one who thinks it either.

[@saian5198]

w video get some more subs

[@Leftfield71]

That Toronto Raptors logo you called perfect is one of the most embarrassingly bad logo's in the history of world sports.

[@ThatGuyMN]

Couldn't agree more. Don't know why it gets the love it does.

[@nathansteele4358]

@@ThatGuyMNbecause it’s cool

[@DMitch-ny3jb]

I think the majority of the older logos are a lot better man

[@joshualee9540]

I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I prefer the modern Raptors designs over their more classic designs.

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

🤦‍♂️ that's just an objectively incorrect opinion

[@play-s-_______-osu]

lemme guess your favorite color is white and your favorite drink is water

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

@@play-s-_______-osu lmaooo 🤣🤣🤣

[@joshualee9540]

@@play-s-_______-osu 😐😐😐

[@Sileak0130]

@@KOGOSTOMUS thats just there opinion

[@jnest5547]

Think the nba is goin for a more globally pleasing look. Think premier soccer clubs. So it gives more of a tribal sense for other countries residents to want to buy merchandise. Some of the classic logos might be too much for those markets to catch on

[@mcNuggetMuncher]

So your saying Toronto changed their logo to appeal to the local savage Ecamos.

[@bennetthardy]

knicks and warriors were the only good ones still

[@johannjasinski]

check out my new logo for the Toronto Raptors. It's an animation depicting features of what a new logo should look like

[@PerryCoxPF93]

The Lakers logo is classic…you’re idolizing a group of logos from the mid 90s that were universally denounced when they started lol. The Lakers logo is classic. it started the trend of basketballs in logos…very few teams did this.

[@night6724]

He’s not even consistent 1. Warriors - Had the Golden Gate Bridge since moving to SF as their logo until the 2000s when they replaced it with the guy before reverting back to the old bridge logo. Also it’s literally just words and basketball with a guy 2. Knicks - Knicks have literally not changed their logo since the 60s 3. Pistons - Again like the warriors the pistons used the simple ball and letters throughout the 80s and 90s before experimenting with the horse logo and then reverted back to the old logo 4. Hawks - Again after moving to Atlanta they had the logo be the hawk circle outline. In the late 90s and 2000s they had the hawk and ball before again reverting back to the classic logo 5. Lakers - Lakers haven’t changed their logo since moving to LA. And ohh that Minnesota Lakers logo is real interesting putting the state in the center 6. Cavs - So putting a caviled silhouette in front of a basketball makes it better? 7. Bulls - Again never changed their logo. It’s literally perfect And yeah logos were mascots precisely because of advertisement. Now a days adverts need to be straight forward and to the point. I guess an interesting side note is while the majority of nba logos feature a basketball the majority of nfl logos do not. In fact I think only 2 feature a football. The NY Jets and the TB Bucs. I guess the raiders logo also features a man wearing a leather helmet too.

[@brokensoul8390]

But...there's no lakes in Los Angeles

[@FL6K0]

THANK YOU THE JERSEYS AND LOGOS LOOK TRASH COMPARED TO THE 2000'S ! BRO.. KINGS, GRIZZLIES, HAWKS, MAGIC SUPERSONICS (RIP), PISTONS, HORNETS, WARRIORS, WIZARDS, SUNS, ROCKETS (ONE OF THE BEST) ..... 76ERS OMFG.... THE ALLEN IVERSON, KYLE KORVER ERA 76ERS JERSEYS ????

[@77GOD77]

That logo was ugly as shit as will as the current logo

[@yokaigypsy]

That tin can logo for the Pistons is trash. The blazing horse logo is better.

[@I_am_brick11]

HASHTAGBRINGBACKHAPPYBUCK

[@notafox1195]

That's not even Cleveland's new logo we want to be changed it have you heard not cut up caught up I can't I need to catch up we changed it I am don't say that we now go to basketball with the slogan with the name of the team behind it because now we have a shield so you can't say that we have a basketball hahaha

[@user-ec6jv1ru2u]

LAKERS GOT THE BEST LOGO

[@yokaigypsy]

The second Hawks logo was dope. And the current Bucks logo are fine. The old one was childish.

[@JustLuke08]

The cavs logo was so much better tbh, I genuinely believe those city edition jerseys from last year are one of if not the best In franchise history

[@brokensoul8390]

Whoever in the Cavs' front office thought it would be a good idea to get rid of the sword in the logo should be FIRED

[@joshuaso627]

You just vented about nothing. The logos you're complaining about like the Pistons, Warriors, and Hawks went back to their old logos from the 70s and 80s. So your point about the logos reflecting "modern society getting duller" doesn't make any sense because the logos are from the past.

[@xrosshair26]

Don't care what you guys say it's my opinion logo of NBA teams now a days is cool and still prefer them over the old once

[@jakethemcufan7021]

WTF

[@mcNuggetMuncher]

I agree as a raptors fan it used to be hard to watch the games when they still had their old logo becouse I would find my self constantly looking at the lower corner of my screen at the logo and it would always give me a stiffy. It's awkward trying to watch a full game of basketball with your grandma when you have a stiffy the whole time

[@bad6220]

I like the new logo.

[@xrosshair26]

I like the new one it's simple

[@screech34]

I need all these teams to change to their logos with characters and smiles in it. (Pin comment pls)

[@jakeambrose21_28]

The Warriors logo is reminiscent of their old logos pre "we believe" era. Its also clearly not a basketball lol its the Golden Gate Bridge, which makes sense for the team, and i prefer it because it's a new spin on the old logos, and i think most Warriors fans would agree.