Los Angeles Lakers Logo PNG
The Los Angeles Lakers club’s visualization, namely the team logo, only received its famous name in 1948. The modern identity associates the brand with a new “address,” symbolizing high-speed gameplay and reflecting professional orientation.
Los Angeles Lakers: Brand overview
| Founded: | 1947 |
| Founder: | Buss Family Trusts, Jeanie Buss, Philip Anschutz, Edward P. Roski, Patrick Soon-Shiong |
| Headquarters: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Website: | nba.com |
The club was founded in 1946 under the name Detroit Gems. In 1947, the Detroit Gems team finished its short journey in real sports. The worst average statistics and points scored by opponents per match in the 1946/47 season hinted at the team’s lack of positive prospects.
After a year spent in Detroit, the team moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and became known as the “Minneapolis Lakers.” The team’s owner, named C. King Boring, agreed to sell the franchise rights. His partners, Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen, natives of Minnesota, acquired the rights for a modest $15,000.
But in reality, the new owners got, instead of a team, the name and some sports equipment. Deciding to break with the team’s unsuccessful past completely, Berger and Chalfen agreed to give the new name a local flavor. From the list of main nicknames of Minnesota, “North Star,” “Gopher State,” and “Land of 10,000 Lakes” were considered. The latter name was deemed the most organic by the owners. By the way, the term LAKER also referred to a unique project of ships transporting goods in the Great Lakes area. Due to the name “Lakers,” the team got the nickname Lakers.
The sufferings of the predecessors from the “Gems” were worth it: in the draft, the “Minneapolis Lakers” got one pick, under which George Mikan, the future legend of the club, was selected. The team entered the new season, achieving great success, and became its main discovery, winning the debut championship title.
George Mikan announced his retirement twice. But only after his final retirement in 1956 did interest in the team begin to plummet rapidly. Unconvincing financial indicators forced the owners to start looking for potential buyers. The team was saved from moving to Kansas City by a team from Minnesota led by Bob Short.
The successful experience of the “Brooklyn Dodgers” moving to Los Angeles made the team’s owner think about changing the address. The status of a metropolis, suitable climatic conditions, and the absence of competition made the “City of Angels” a priority. So, in 1960, the club moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, California.
To preserve the team’s uniqueness, the previous name was retained, except for the prefix. From 1960, the team was called the “Los Angeles Lakers.” It’s a team whose sports achievements (16 championship titles) exceed the number of natural lakes in the state itself.
Meaning and History
The basketball team “Lakers,” originally from Minneapolis, has existed for more than 70 years. It’s one of the most titled NBA teams and, according to Forbes magazine, the most expensive. The “Los Angeles Lakers” is one of many NBA teams that had to change their logo and name after moving to another state. When it was based in Minneapolis, players’ jerseys were decorated with an abstract bright yellow logo. Having moved to a new city, the club underwent a redesign and acquired its final style.
What is Los Angeles Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful basketball teams in the history of the National Basketball Association. It has won 17 championships. The club began playing in 1947 in the NBL as the “Minneapolis Lakers” and was headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It then moved to Los Angeles, changing its name. The franchise is part of the NBA, represents the Pacific Division, and participates in the Western Conference.
1948 – 1960
The first logo of the “Minneapolis Lakers” was quite memorable. It embodied the arrival of something new in the world of basketball. The original emblem appeared when the franchise was called Minneapolis Lakers. It featured a basketball, resembling a globe, thanks to the artists depicting the borders of Minnesota inside the circle and marking the city of Minneapolis with a small five-pointed star. Above was the abbreviation “MPLS,” with a dot at the end and two large stars on each side. Below – is the word “LAKERS.”
1961 – 1976
After the “Lakers” moved to Los Angeles, the emblem took on a completely new look. The ball was preserved but became dark green and grainy, like grass on a lawn. The team’s name moved to the center. The purple inscription “LOS ANGELES LAKERS” was divided into two lines and unusually framed: thin lines stretch left from the last word. Combined with italicized font, this creates a movement effect.
1977 – 2001
After nearly 30 years of existence, the team changed its primary colors. The main lines of the ball turned from white to black. Other colors also changed: green to orange and dark purple to light blue. The seams on the ball shifted in the opposite direction.
2002 – today
In 2002, the developers increased the clarity of the logo due to more saturated shades of gold, black, and purple. Compositionally, nothing changed: the team decided to stick to its old style.
Los Angeles Lakers: Interesting Facts
- Started in Minneapolis: The team began in 1947 in Minneapolis, where they won five championships. Their name, “Lakers,” comes from Minnesota’s nickname, “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
- Move to LA: They moved to Los Angeles in 1960, becoming the first NBA team on the West Coast. They kept the name “Lakers” even though it doesn’t fit Los Angeles.
- Many Championships: The Lakers have won 17 NBA Championships, tying them for the most wins in the NBA. They’ve had great teams over the years, including Magic Johnson playing in the 1980s, Shaq and Kobe Bryant in the early 2000s, and recently with LeBron James in 2020.
- Showtime Lakers: In the 1980s, the “Showtime Lakers” were known for playing a fast and fun style of basketball. Magic Johnson led the team, which included stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy.
- Rivalry with the Celtics: The Lakers and the Boston Celtics have a big rivalry, especially famous in the 1980s. They played against each other a lot in the finals, creating many memorable moments.
- Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant is one of the best players ever for the Lakers. He spent his 20-year career with them, won five championships, and is remembered fondly.
- Hall of Famers: Many Lakers players, such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaq, and Kobe Bryant, have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. This shows how good the team has been.
- Stadium Name Change: They used to play in the Staples Center, but in 2021, it was renamed the Crypto.com Arena. This place has seen many big games and moments, like Kobe Bryant’s last game, where he scored 60 points.
- Big Records: The Lakers have set some records, like Magic Johnson winning the Finals MVP in his rookie year and Elgin Baylor scoring 71 points in a game in 1960.
- Famous Worldwide: The Lakers are known worldwide, thanks to their success and famous players. Being in Los Angeles also helps them be more popular.
- Great Coaches: They’ve had famous coaches like Phil Jackson, who used a special strategy called the triangle offense, and Pat Riley, who coached during the Showtime era.
- Celebrity Fans: Many celebrities go to Lakers games, making their games even more exciting and glamorous.
The Lakers have a big impact on basketball with their championships, famous players, and influence on culture.
Font and Colors
The shape and proportions of the club’s sign have not changed since 1961. As before, a proud place is occupied by a basketball with distinctly drawn seams, and across it is written the full name Los Angeles Lakers. Numerous horizontal stripes that stretch from the letters in the word “LAKERS” add dynamism and make the logo recognizable.
For the inscription, developers used a stylized font. The font is italic with serifs and decorative elements, for example, an elongated leg of the letter “R,” which surrounds the neighboring “S” from below. The palette includes only three colors: purple for the text, gold, and black for the basketball.
Los Angeles Lakers color codes
| Gold | Hex color: | #fdb927 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 253 185 39 | |
| CMYK: | 0 30 94 0 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 123 C |
| Purple | Hex color: | #552583 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 85 37 130 | |
| CMYK: | 79 100 0 12 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 526 C |
| Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 6 25 34 | |
| CMYK: | 30 100 0 0 | |
| Pantone: | PMS Black C |
FAQ
What does the “Los Angeles Lakers” logo represent?
The team’s logo is very stable. It has always represented an image of a ball, supplemented with inscriptions. The modern version also consists of these components. The inscription Los Angeles Lakers is made against the background of a large basketball, highlighted with black, curved, straight, and curved stripes. It’s colored purple with barely noticeable strokes that give the logo dynamism.
Why is the Lakers logo purple and gold?
Purple and gold are classic color combinations for the Lakers logo. This combination was approved in 1960 after the franchise moved to another state. Since Los Angeles is located against a backdrop of mountains with a slight purple haze and is a concentration of gold glamour, the club chose these colors for itself. Additionally, the gold color almost matches the traditional yellow color of the basketball.
What are the colors of the “Los Angeles Lakers”?
The main colors of the Los Angeles Lakers are gold, black, and purple. They appeared in 1960 after it moved out of the city of Minneapolis. Since then, they have remained the official colors of the club and have never changed.
What shade of yellow is present in the “Lakers” logo?
The yellow color in the Lakers logo is close to gold. It has PMS 123 C (Pantone grid), # FDB927 (Hex Color), 253, 185, 39 (RGB), and 0, 30, 94, 0 (CMYK).
