Evolution of NBA Team Logos
By Josh Cohen
August 16, 2011
ORLANDO -- When you need a sports history refresher, glance over the evolution of team logos and suddenly a 15-minute conversation about classic games and performances with your buddies transforms into an endless one.
I recently decided to browse over the timeline of NBA logos for each active franchise and astoundingly there are so many moments that popped in my head.
For instance: When I gaze at the Utah Jazz logo that existed from 1996-2004, I can’t help but think of John Stockton and Karl Malone and their unforgettable NBA Finals clashes with the Chicago Bulls in 1997 and 1998.
The Atlanta Hawks emblem from 1972-1995 definitely reminds me of the days of Dominique Wilkins, while the Detroit Pistons symbol from 1979-1996 undoubtedly prompts me to think of Isiah Thomas and the Bad Boys of the late 1980’s.
It’s also astonishing the transformations that certain teams have made over the years to their image.
For example: The Houston Rockets have made significant alterations to their logo the five different times they have changed it. It’s fascinating that after they captured their second consecutive NBA championship in 1995, the Rockets decided to completely refurbish their exterior.
It’s also attention-grabbing that despite having such rich tradition, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have combined to showcase 10 different logos throughout history.
Last season, the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz all released new logos and this year, the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards have done the same.
I have pasted in every franchise’s primary logo timeline below.
NOTE: I decided to add in logos prior to relocation. Initially, I included only logos of teams from their current residence, but after more consideration, I opted to add the emblems from birth.
After examining all of the different illustrations from all 30 NBA teams, feel free to get creative and send in your own logos. They can be for make-believe sports teams or perhaps of organizations that you are a part of. Email your art here.
Graphics courtesy SportsLogos.Net
August 16, 2011
ORLANDO -- When you need a sports history refresher, glance over the evolution of team logos and suddenly a 15-minute conversation about classic games and performances with your buddies transforms into an endless one.
I recently decided to browse over the timeline of NBA logos for each active franchise and astoundingly there are so many moments that popped in my head.
For instance: When I gaze at the Utah Jazz logo that existed from 1996-2004, I can’t help but think of John Stockton and Karl Malone and their unforgettable NBA Finals clashes with the Chicago Bulls in 1997 and 1998.
The Atlanta Hawks emblem from 1972-1995 definitely reminds me of the days of Dominique Wilkins, while the Detroit Pistons symbol from 1979-1996 undoubtedly prompts me to think of Isiah Thomas and the Bad Boys of the late 1980’s.
It’s also astonishing the transformations that certain teams have made over the years to their image.
For example: The Houston Rockets have made significant alterations to their logo the five different times they have changed it. It’s fascinating that after they captured their second consecutive NBA championship in 1995, the Rockets decided to completely refurbish their exterior.
It’s also attention-grabbing that despite having such rich tradition, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have combined to showcase 10 different logos throughout history.
Last season, the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz all released new logos and this year, the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards have done the same.
I have pasted in every franchise’s primary logo timeline below.
NOTE: I decided to add in logos prior to relocation. Initially, I included only logos of teams from their current residence, but after more consideration, I opted to add the emblems from birth.
After examining all of the different illustrations from all 30 NBA teams, feel free to get creative and send in your own logos. They can be for make-believe sports teams or perhaps of organizations that you are a part of. Email your art here.
Graphics courtesy SportsLogos.Net
 1949-51 |  1951-1955 |  1955-1957 |  1957-1968 |  1968/69 |  1969/70 | |
 1970-1972 |  1972-1995 |  1995-2007 |  2007-Pres | |||
 1946-1950 |  1950-1960 |  1960-1968 |  1968-1978 |  1978-1995 |  1995-Pres | |
 2004-2007 |  2007-Pres | |||||
 1966-Pres | ||||||
 1970-1983 |  1983-1994 |  1994-2003 |  2003-2010 |  2010-Pres | ||
 1980-2001 |  2001-Pres | |||||
 1976-1981 |  1981-1993 |  1993-2003 |  2003-2008 |  2008-Pres | ||
 1941-1948 |  1948-1957 |
 1957-1971 |  1971-1975 |  1975-1979 |  1979-1996 | |
 1996-2001 |  2001-2005 |  2005-Pres | ||||
 1946-1951 |  1951-1962 |
 1962-1969 |  1969-1971 |  1971/72 |
 1971-1975 | |
 1975-1978 |  1988-1997 |  1997-2010 |  2010-Pres | |||
 1967-1971 |  1971/72 |  1972-1995 |  1995-2003 |  2003-Pres | ||
 1967-1976 |  1976-1990 |  1990-2005 |  2005-Pres | |||
 1970/71 |  1971-1978 |
 1978-1982 |  1982-1984 |  1984-2010 |  2010-Pres | |
 1947-1960 |  1960-1976 |  1976-2001 |  2001-Pres | |||
 1995-2001 |  2001-2004 |  2004-Pres | ||||
 1988-1999 |  1999-Pres | |||||
 1968-1993 |  1996-2006 |  2006-Pres | ||||
 1989-1996 |  1996-2008 |  2008-Pres | ||||
 1968-1972 |  1972-1977 |  1977/78 |  1978-1990 |  1990-1997 |  1997-Pres | |
 1988/89 |  1989-2002 |  2002-2008 |  2008-Pres | |||
 1946-1964 |  1964-1976 |  1976-1992 |  1992-1995 |  1995-2011 |  2011-Pres | |
 1967-1970 |  1970/71 |  1971-1975 |  1975-1995 |  1995-2001 |  2001-2008 | |
 2008-Pres | ||||||
 1989-2000 |  2000-2010 |  2010-Pres | ||||
 1946-1949 |  1949-1963 |  1963-1977 |  1977-1997 |  1997-2009 |  2009-Pres | |
 1968-1992 |  1992-2000 |  2000-Pres | ||||
 1970-1990 |  1990-2002 |  2002/03 |  2003/04 |  2004-Pres | ||
 1945-1957 |  1957-1971 |  1971/72 |  1972-1975 |  1975-1985 |  1985-1994 | |
 1994-Pres | ||||||
 1976-1989 |  1989-2002 |  2002-Pres | ||||
 1995-2008 |  2008-Pres | |||||
 1974-1979 |  1979-1996 |  1996-2004 |  2004-2010 |  2010-Pres | ||
 1963-1969 |  1969-1973 |  1973-74 |  1974-1987 |  1987-1997 |  1997-2007 | |
 2007-2011 |  2011-Pres | |||||
