NBA Logos Quiz

How familiar are you with NBA logos? Take our NBA logos quiz and see if you are an expert or a beginner.

START

Guess The NBA Logo Quiz

NBA logos changed dramatically over time. From cartoon-like logos to the simple ones that we have today, only experts can recognize all of them. If you think you can be one of them, take this NBA logos quiz and check how your knowledge stacks against others.

The quiz features 20 logos. To make it more interesting, and harder, we included some of the logos that were used in the past.

ALSO TRY: Ultimate NBA Trivia Quiz

Importance Of NBA Logos

NBA is often referred to as a spectator sport, and within it visual culture is crucial. Team logos are the foundation of the team’s identity. They’re the first thing that fans see so they have to be eye-catching.

The team’s logos have two goals, to respect the past, and represent the future. Therefore it’s not uncommon for teams to change their logos over time. They have to pay tribute to the team’s and city's history while also generating excitement for the future.

What Makes NBA Logos Different?

At first sight, NBA logos seem simple. However, they’re much more complex if you know what to look for. Thus, let’s break apart the way NBA teams design their logos.

First, there is the shape of the logo. Different shapes represent various meanings fans give to them, consciously or unconsciously. For instance, New York Knicks have a triangular shape which we connect to a superhero logo. Or, the Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trailblazers and Phoenix Suns have a logo of a rectangular shape reminiscent of the tournament shields all the way in the Middle Ages.

Secondly, most of the NBA logos have some type of symbol in them. The most common one is an intimidating animal. For example, grizzly bear for Memphis Grizzlies, or wolf for Minnesota Timberwolves. Sometimes the animal has a connection to the city’s history. The best example of this is the Milwaukee Bucks who are represented by a deer, an animal that they had in abundance. Whereas for Toronto Raptors the animal is not as important. It was voted by the public as a reference to the movie Jurassic Park.

Lastly, some teams choose geographical locations to represent them in their logos. The best example of this is the Denver Nuggets who have a skyline and the Colorado Summit in their logo.

ALSO TRY: Which NBA Player Are You?

How The NBA Logos Change Over Time

In the early days of the NBA teams used cartoon characters. The arrival of Mac and David Stern in the 1990s marked a new era for the team’s logos. They were no longer hand-drawn and had the luxury of modern technology.

Nowadays, teams trend towards graphic simplicity. This simplicity led to many boring logos which many fans hate.