Branding is vitally important not only for business organizations and entrepreneurs, but also for individuals who can make their lives prominent with the help of logos. Renowned sportsmen are of this kind. In this article, we are going to recall a masterful Los Angeles Lakers basketball player whose logo helped him to enhance his glory and fortune. We are talking about Kobe Bryant, who became the youngest player to take part in an NBA game at the age of eighteen.
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Kobe Bryant was one of the most famous basketball players of all time. He spent his NBA professional career playing only for one team. His heart was always with the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. He possessed raw talent and won five championships as a Lakers player. The logo of Kobe Bryant, the legendary former NBA player, is known to almost every fan of this sport.
The created logo has gone through several stages of evolution, but the most famous is the so-called “Sheath Logo”. This design was introduced in 2003, when the basketball player signed a contract with Nike. The image is a stylized calligraphy symbol resembling a sword in a scabbard. The sword symbolizes discipline and determination any person should have, and the scabbard symbolizes stability and protection that anyone needs.
Kobe Bryant’s Logo looks rather strict and can be called minimalistic. Here you will not find diverse geometry, strange typography, or multiple color variants. Bryant logo has only six segments. It has become attractive and well-known due to the secret meaning of them.
Kobe Bryant’s logo has four upper diagonal elements which symbolize moving forward, progress, development, and a desire to win. That is true about the basketball player. He never gave up in face of difficulties and always moved forward. Also, these shapes represent upward movement, which a player performs when he throws curveballs.
The shapes in the lower part of the logo symbolize stability, strengths, and self-awareness. All these notions are features of Kobe Bryant’s personality, which he exhibited while playing and winning consecutive NBA championships.
There are six elements in the logo. If we turn to numerology, we will learn that it is used to denote balance, stability, and responsibility. All these things were in Bryant’s character, and he demonstrated them in NBA games.
The history of the logo began in 2003, when Nike signed Kobe Bryant to a five-year contract. The logo was designed by Eric Avar, one of Nike’s top innovative kitchen chefs. In his interviews, he said that the inspiration for creating the logo was the culture of the samurai.
The Kobe logo consists of six elements, together forming a shape reminiscent of the hilt of a sword (though not at all samurai).
Overall, the meaning of the logo is shrouded in mystery. Fans draw an analogy between the Kobe Bryant logo and the badge that was on the sword of Beatrix Kiddo, the main character of the film Kill Bill. By the way, her nickname was “Black Mamba”. A very convincing comparison, but it was not possible to obtain confirmation from Bryant himself regarding the veracity of this version.
In an interview with Esquire magazine, Bryant explained that the logo represents a sword in a sheath: “The sword is the naked talent, while the sheath is the shell of it, the effort we put in, our life experience.” The logo never received an official name, but among fans it is called “The Sheath”.
It has become an icon of the sport thanks to some key design features:
Thus, the logo has become a representation of excellence and the pursuit of excellence.
The brand sign looks like a samurai warriors’ sword. The Kobe Bryant logo is usually presented in various color variations. However, the most common colors are black, gold, and purple. Each of these colors has its own special meaning:
Black: Black symbolizes power, authority, and luxury. It is also associated with elegance and mystery, which is quite consistent with Kobe’s image as a master of the game and a mysterious personality.
Gold: Gold is traditionally associated with wealth, victory, and success. In the context of Kobe Bryant’s career, gold reminds us of his many championship titles and the highest achievements.
Purple: Purple is especially significant for Kobe, as it is associated with the Los Angeles Lakers team, for which he played throughout his NBA career. Purple represents royalty, ambition, and passion — all the qualities that set him apart on the court.
As you see, the Kobe Bryant logo is a complex combination of symbols and colors that reflect his personality, achievements, and influence on the world of basketball.
Kobe Bryant is a great figure in NBA history. He had several awards. For example, he made an efficient game pair with Shaquille O’Neal. Playing together, they won three consecutive NBA championships for the Lakers. He also achieved the second-largest result in the NBA championship in 2006, scoring eighty-one points against the Toronto Raptors. He participated in the NBA All-Star games seventeen times. One more achievement that still makes him stand out is that he got 30,000 career points at the age of 34, making him the youngest player in the league to do so.
Another interesting fact about his outstanding personality is that he gained popularity not only in the USA but also internationally. Bryant was a double Olympic gold champion.
He retired from the sport in 2016 due to a series of injuries, but he remained in the spotlight. Besides being an outstanding basketball player, he ventured into storytelling and was an Oscar winner. In partnership with Nike, he founded the Mamba League, which aims to provide youth with free and fair access to sports.
His life ended tragically on January 26, 2020, when he died along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash.
Kobe Bryant’s logo has become spectacular and unforgettable. Its deep symbolism and minimalistic design, as well as its association with one of the greatest players in NBA history, have made it not only a brand but also a symbol for a whole generation of athletes and fans. If you are interested in creating NBA-like logos, try the online logo generator Turbologo for free.
I’m a product and graphic designer with 10-years background. Writing about branding, logo creation and business.
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