Why Is Jerry West the NBA Logo?

Jerry West has been the NBA logo since 1971, but why? In this blog post, we explore the history of the NBA logo and how Jerry West came to be its face.

Jerry West’s Career

Jerry West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history. After his playing career, he became a successful coach and executive in the NBA. He is also the namesake of the NBA logo.

His playing career

Jerry West was born in Chelyan, West Virginia, on May 28, 1938. He was the only child of Howard Stewart West, a coal miner, and his wife, Cecil Sue. Jerry began playing basketball at an early age and quickly developed into a star player at East Bank High School. He led his team to the state championship game as a junior in 1955 and was named a first-team All-State player.

West continued his stellar play as a senior, averaging 32 points per game. He again led his team to the state championship game, this time defeating rival Fairmont High School for the title. West’s performance earned him a spot on the West Virginia Mountaineers’ varsity squad.

As a freshman at West Virginia University, Jerry averaged 17.8 points per game and was named an honorable mention All-American. He improved his scoring average to 19.2 points per game as a sophomore and was selected to the All-American team.

West had another stellar season as a junior, averaging 25 points per game and leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA tournament championship game. In that contest, he scored 28 points but fouled out late in regulation as West Virginia lost to California by a score of 71-70 in overtime. Jerry finished third in voting for the 1960 Heisman Trophy and was again named an All-American.

After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in business management, Jerry West was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1960 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

His coaching career

In 1974, West took over as the Lakers’ head coach. After leading the team to a 46–34 record in his first season, he was named Coach of the Year. The next season, the Lakers went 55–27 and made it back to the NBA Finals before losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games. In 1976–77, West led the Lakers to a 49-33 record and their third straight trip to the NBA Finals. This time, they faced Julius Erving’s Philadelphia 76ers; despite having home court advantage and winning Game 1, they lost the series in six games.

During his coaching tenure with the Lakers, he was also notable for mentoring future head coaches Pat Riley and Paul Westhead. Riley would go on to win four championships as head coach of the Lakers during their “Showtime” era in the 1980s, while Westhead would lead them to a championship in his first year as head coach in 1981–82.

The NBA Logo

The NBA logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world. Jerry West, the man pictured in the logo, was a 14-time All-Star and a member of the 1972 USA Olympic Basketball team. He is also considered one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. So, why is he the NBA logo?

The history of the NBA logo

The NBA logo is one of the most recognizable logos in all of sports. The silhouette of Jerry West has been the face of the NBA for over 50 years, and it’s one of the few sports logos that doesn’t feature a specific team. So how did Jerry West end up being the logo of the NBA?

The story goes that in 1969, the NBA was looking for a new logo to replace the old one that had been in use since 1951. They wanted something that would be more modern and representative of the league as a whole, rather than just a specific team. After considering several different designs, they settled on a silhouette of Jerry West, which was created by graphic designerAlan Siegel.

West was chosen because he was seen as a symbol of excellence in the sport, and his silhouette fit well with the other elements of the logo (such as the basketball and the words “NBA”).

The logo was first used during the 1971-72 season, and it has been tweaked several times over the years (most notably in 1983, when it was redrawn by famed graphic designer inciomorph). However, Jerry West remains the central figure of the NBA logo to this day.

Why Jerry West is the NBA logo

many people don’t know that the iconic NBA logo is based on the silhouette of former Los Angeles Lakers player Jerry West.

West was drafted by the Lakers in 1960 and quickly became one of the best players in the league. He was a nine-time All-Star and was named Finals MVP in 1969, when he led the Lakers to their first NBA Championship. He also played a key role in helping the team win titles in 1972, 1980 and 1982.

In 1974, West was named the NBA’s logo designer. The silhouette that he created has remained largely unchanged for more than 40 years and is one of the most recognizable logos in all of sports.

West’s involvement with the NBA continued long after his playing days were over. He served as general manager of the Lakers for 17 years, during which time the team won five more championships. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and his jersey number (42) has been retired by both the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, who he also worked for as an executive.

So why is Jerry West the NBA logo? Simply put, he’s one of basketball’s greatest players and contributors, and his silhouette is synonymous with the sport itself.

The Impact of Jerry West

For those who don’t know, Jerry West is an NBA legend who played for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also the man who is pictured on the NBA logo. Jerry West had a huge impact on the game of basketball and the NBA. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why Jerry West is the NBA logo.

His impact on the game of basketball

Jerry West is often considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was an All-Star for 14 seasons, winning the NBA Finals MVP in 1969. He also coached the Lakers to nine NBA Finals appearances, winning five times. West was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.

But Jerry West’s legacy goes beyond his on-court accomplishments. In 1971, he was the inspiration for the NBA logo. The logo, designed by Alan Siegel, features a silhouette of West making a jump shot. It’s one of the most iconic logos in all of sports, and it’s all because of Jerry West.

West’s impact on the game of basketball cannot be understated. He was a true pioneer and helped shape the game into what it is today. His influence extends even beyond the court, as evidenced by his impact on the NBA logo. Jerry West is truly one of the greats.

His impact on the NBA

Jerry West is an American basketball executive and former player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He earned a reputation as one of the greatest players and clutch performers in NBA history, and was nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to make late-game game-winning plays.

During his 14 seasons with the Lakers, West played in 12 NBA Finals, winning eight championships. He was also named an All-Star 14 times, including being named co-MVP of the 1972 NBA All-Star Game. In 1980, he was named as the NBA’s first ever logo. In 2004, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

West’s impact on the NBA cannot be understated. He was one of the greatest players in league history and helped lead the Lakers to numerous championships. His likeness has been used as the NBA’s logo since 1980, and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. West’s legacy will continue to live on through his impact on the game of basketball.