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NEW YORK – A day after posting on social media that he would like to see the NBA logo change from Jerry West to Kobe Bryant, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving reaffirmed his stance and said he was fine if he was a conversation leader.
“We want to set a standard and a precedent, like it’s excellence,” Irving said Thursday, after the Nets beat the Orlando Magic 129-92. “Kobe Bryant. Logo. Yes. It has to happen. I don’t care what anyone says.”
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Irving put together a photo of a modified NBA logo with Bryant replaced as the figure in the middle with this caption: “Gotta Happen, idc what everyone is saying. BLACK KINGS BUILT THE LEAGUE.”
Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe Bryant, shared Irving’s post on her Instagram Story with the caption: “Love this. @KyrieIrving.”
Irving said Thursday night: “I want this to be something in history that will be forever changed, for our generation to be a part of that change. And if that means I have to lead this forward and start the conversation, Well fine.”
In 2017, West said on ESPN’s The Jump that while it’s “flattering” to be portrayed as the symbol of the league, “I think if I were the NBA I would be embarrassed about that. don’t like to do anything. to draw attention to me. If they want to change it, I wish they would. In many ways, I wish they would. “
Irving has said he understands his proposal is not to everyone’s liking.
“I know he’s probably been met by people who like it – who like the idea – and people who don’t like him,” Irving said. “But, my thing is to pay homage to the example that was set by this man.”
Since Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash in January 2020, the idea of changing the logo to a silhouette of Bryant has gained traction. A change.org petition supporting the idea has garnered 3.2 million signatures since early 2020. NBA logo creator Alan Siegel – current CEO and chairman of brand identity and communications consultancy Siegelvision – told Newsweek at the time, “It is clear that [Bryant] was a very respected figure among players and around the world and that’s a really serious thing that should be considered by the league. “
Irving said Thursday that in advocating making Bryant’s likeness the logo, he did not intend to disparage any of the other players who have had a significant impact on the league.
“I think he deserves it,” Irving said. “I think his family deserves it. I think we deserve it seeing the greatness personified by Mamba. And anyone who comes into the league should know that this is the example that has been set.”
ESPN’s Arda Ocal contributed to this report.
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