Kyrie Irving believes the late Kobe Bryant should be the face of the new NBA logo.
On Wednesday (Feb. 24), the Brooklyn Nets point guard took to Instagram to share his thoughts. “Gotta happen, idc what anyone says,” he captioned an image of Bryant. “BLACK KINGS BUILT THE LEAGUE.” Several other past and present NBA players shared their opinions in Irving’s comment section. LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets commented, “Only right,” followed by the one hundred emoji symbol. Former NBA champion Stephen Jackson wrote, “Facts.”
Bryant tragically passed away last year in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. The group was traveling to a game at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California. Since his death, he has become a topic of discussion to replace West on the NBA logo.
The current NBA logo was designed by Alan Siegel and the league has used its iconic tri-color image since 1971. The logo has mostly remained the same, except for a small change to the font, which was introduced in 2017.
Shortly after the Los Angeles Lakers’ star passed, fans created a petition for the NBA to change the logo, which has garnered over 3.2 million signatures. “With the untimely and unexpected passing of the great Kobe Bryant, please sign this petition in an attempt to immortalize him forever as the new NBA Logo,” petition creator Nick M. wrote.
Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016 after playing 20 years in the league. He earned five championship titles, was named finals MVP two times and won two Olympic gold medals. The NBA star will posthumously enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and others, this May.
If you would like to sign the petition to have Bryant featured as the new NBA logo, click here.