After Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in late January 2020, many people have taken to social media to speak about the impact he has had on the lives of basketball fans and home audiences around the world. One of the topics that came into debate was the current National Basketball Association (NBA) logo. Many people want the NBA logo to be updated to further expand on the evolution of basketball.  One advocate of this was Scooter Braun, a famous record executive and entrepreneur, via his Instagram feed. Additionally, a petition has been signed by over three million people who want to implement this change.  

The current NBA Logo was designed by Alan Siegel, a Cornell alum, who had previously worked with the creation of the logo for the Major League Baseball organization (MLB). He decided to use the silhouette of player Jerry West, but didn’t have any intention to pay him tribute with the design.

Bryant was an iconic basketball player and public figure who was a phenomenal man both on and off the court. In addition to being a five-time NBA Champion, an eighteen-time NBA All-Star and earning two Olympic gold medals, Bryant was also very active in his charitable endeavors. Bryant worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for over twenty years and launched the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation to provide minority and underrepresented students with scholarships. On top of his philanthropy, Bryant is a cultural icon. When I was in elementary and junior high school, I often saw students throw their trash in the trash bin from long distances and shout “Kobe!” Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing affected so many people around the globe, and I believe that changing the NBA Logo would be a great way to honor him.

“Although the logo right now is one person,” said Jonathan Fang ’22, “it’s been like that since the 60’s, and there shouldn’t be a reason to change it.” While the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it argument is often valid, in my opinion, changing the NBA logo would be a great way to reflect the developing values and accomplishments of the NBA as a whole. An anonymous student agrees, saying, “Kobe consistently exemplified values of hard work, perseverance, and his famous ‘Mamba Mentality,’ or extreme focus and dedication. He was the person the NBA should strive to emulate and encourage as well as the global population.”Chanel Richardson ‘22 believes, “Overall, he was really good at what he did and inspired many, so I think the change would be a nice way to honor him. Plus it wouldn’t be hurting anyone.”

Updating the logo would not only honor Kobe Bryant, but it would serve as a symbol of the athleticism and service that Kobe gave the world in his lifetime. Many Bronx Science students, including myself, believe that changing the logo would be a great tribute to him and would honor his numerous accomplishments.

Changing the NBA logo would be a great way to reflect the developing values and accomplishments of the NBA as a whole.