Jerry West, basketball icon and inspiration for the NBA logo, leaves a memorable legacy

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This Wednesday (12), the world of basketball lost one of its greatest legends, Jerry West. Known as one of the biggest names in NBA and unquestionable idol of the Los Angeles Lakers, at the age of 86, West died at home, according to an announcement from the LA Clippers, the team he consulted for, since 2017. The former athlete and coach, left a legacy that transcends the courts, and even , inspired the NBA logo.

During his 14-year career with the Lakers, West stood out as one of the greatest players in basketball history. He was the third player in NBA history to reach the 25,000-point mark and led his team to nine league finals.

Known as ‘Mr. Clutch’ for his ability to score game-winning baskets, West was an inspiration to players and fans around the world. During his career, the point guard was an ‘All-Star’ 14 times, the NBA’s annual celebration, where the league’s best players face each other in a duel of stars.

West also won several individual awards, such as scoring basket in 1970, assists leader in 1972, guiding the Lakers to the NBA title in the same year and being Finals MVP in 1969. The player’s incredible performance caused the California team to retire your 44 shirt forever.

In addition to his individual accomplishments, West has also made his mark as a coach and executive. As an executive with the Lakers, he participated in several titles, being elected director of the year in the NBA in 1995 and 2004. He was also inducted into the basketball ‘Hall of Fame’ three times, twice as a player (Lakers and the US national team) and one as an executive. In 2011, West was hired by the Warriors as an executive. After six years, West was hired by the LA Clippers as a consultant.

With Jerry West’s departure, the basketball world loses a great player, coach and incredible executive, but his legacy will live on forever, as inspiration and motivation for basketball fans.

The evolution of the NBA logo

The current NBA logo, a representation of a Jerry West dribble, appeared in the 1971/1972 season, marking the league’s 25th anniversary. Developed when West was at the height of his career, the logo not only celebrated his achievements, but also consolidated the NBA’s visual identity at a time when the league needed to stand out in the US.

Comparison between a play by West and the NBA logo (Photo: Disclosure/NBA)

In the 60s and 70s, the NBA faced great competition from the American Basketball Association (ABA), so the need for a more striking visual identity arose. In an interview with Shaun Powell, a journalist who covers the NBA, Alan Siegel, famous designer, told a little about how he was hired for the challenge. According to the designer, in addition to being inspired by West, the logo was also inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB).

“Commissioner Kennedy wanted a logo that had a family relationship with Major League Baseball because the NBA was having a lot of problems with its reputation at that time and wanted to elevate the image. I saw Jerry West’s photo. I always admired him, but I liked the photo, because it was a beautiful vertical and had this movement. I was a fan of his and he was one of those people who had an important history in the NBA. But when designing the logo, I never mentioned that it was based on a photo of him. It was discovered years later,” Siegel told the NBA journalist.

Since then, the logo has undergone subtle but significant changes. In 2017, a slight update to the NBA lettering font was introduced, maintaining the integrity of the original design. Interestingly, Jerry West revealed in an interview with ESPN that he wasn’t a big fan of being the face of the NBA logo.

The success of the NBA’s rebranding has exceeded expectations, generating about $3 billion annually in licensing, according to Siegel + Gale, the agency behind the original project. In addition to the financial aspect, the logo has become a global symbol, solidifying the NBA as one of the most important sports leagues in the world.