Thirty-six brand guides to NBA and WNBA team identities.
Basketball team identities change more often than most, through new logos, city editions and relocations. These guides cover each team’s marks with dates.
How to use these guides
Each guide covers who owns the name today, where the products are made — by the maker’s own account and, where it differs, by other sources — and the brand’s visual identity. A company’s description of itself is attributed to the company, and where a business has closed we say so plainly. The table at the end gathers the essentials.
NBA teams
Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics.
- Los Angeles Lakers — The NBA team that began as the Detroit Gems, took a Minnesota lake-country name in 1947, moved to Los Angeles in 1960, switched to Jack Kent Cooke’s purple (Forum blue) and gold in 1967, and passed from the Buss family to Mark Walter in 2025.
- New York Knicks — The Madison Square Garden team Ned Irish founded in 1946 and named the Knickerbockers after Washington Irving’s Diedrich Knickerbocker, its blue and orange, Willard Mullin’s Father Knickerbocker logo, Bud Freeman’s roundball and Michael Doret’s 1992 triangle.
- Chicago Bulls — The NBA team Dick Klein founded in 1966 and named for the city’s stockyards, its red, black and white charging-bull logo drawn by commercial designer Dean Wessel, its uniforms and Benny the Bull, and Jerry Reinsdorf’s majority ownership since 1985.
- Boston Celtics — The team Walter Brown formed in 1946 for the Boston Garden and named for the Original Celtics and the city’s Irish community, its green uniforms, the Lucky the Leprechaun logo drawn by Zang Auerbach, the shamrock alternate, and its sale by the Grousbeck family to Bill Chisholm’s group in 2025.
NBA teams II
Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.
- Miami Heat — The NBA expansion team that began play in 1988 with backing from Ted Arison, its red, black and white uniforms and flaming-ball logo, the pink-and-turquoise Vice uniforms drawn in-house for the 2017–18 season, and Micky Arison’s control of the club since 1995.
- San Antonio Spurs — The club that began in 1967 as the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals, moved to San Antonio in 1973 and took the Spurs name, its black, silver and white colours, the Fiesta-coloured logo of 1989 to 2002, the 2017 Nike uniforms, and the Holt family’s leadership.
NBA teams III
Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons.
- Golden State Warriors — The team founded in Philadelphia in 1946, moved to San Francisco in 1962 and renamed Golden State in 1971, its “The City” uniform, the 2010 Bay Bridge logo in royal blue and golden yellow, and ownership by the group Joe Lacob and Peter Guber assembled in 2010.
- Philadelphia 76ers — The Syracuse Nationals club Danny Biasone established in 1946, moved to Philadelphia in 1963 and renamed for 1776 through a public contest, its 13-star logo, the 1997 black-and-gold turn, the 2015 refresh with a dribbling Ben Franklin, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment ownership since 2011.
- Toronto Raptors — The NBA expansion club awarded to John Bitove’s group in 1993 and named through a national contest in 1994, its dribbling-raptor logo in purple, red, black and Naismith silver, the clawed-ball shield of 2014, the Sid Lee “We The North” campaign, and ownership by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment since 1998.
- Brooklyn Nets — The club founded in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans, its Stars and Stripes uniforms, the 2012 black-and-white logos credited to Jay-Z and inspired in part by subway signage, its artist-led City uniforms and the streamlined 2024 marks.
- Dallas Mavericks — The NBA team admitted in 1980 and named through a radio contest, its green-and-blue cowboy-hat M of the early decades, the 2001 navy, royal and silver rebrand with a horse-head logo, its alternate and City uniforms, and the Adelson and Dumont families’ ownership since 2023.
- Detroit Pistons — The works team Fred Zollner’s piston foundry sponsored in Fort Wayne, the 1957 move to Detroit, the red, white and blue basketball logo, the teal horse-head era from 1996, the 2017 logo with a chrome outline, and Tom Gores’s ownership since 2011.
NBA teams IV
Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.
- Atlanta Hawks — The Buffalo Bisons club of 1946 that became the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, then the Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks before Atlanta in 1968, its hawk-head “Pac-Man” logo of 1972 and its 2015 return, torch red and legacy yellow, and the group Tony Ressler has led since 2015.
- Phoenix Suns — The 1968 expansion club named through an Arizona Republic contest, its first logo by Tucson printer Stan Fabe, purple and orange, the 1992 Streaking Sun, “Los Suns” and “The Valley” uniforms, the Gorilla, and ownership by Mat and Justin Ishbia since 2023.
- Utah Jazz — The New Orleans Jazz admitted in 1974 under Sam Battistone, the 1979 move to Salt Lake City that kept the name, the purple, gold and green J-note, the 1996 Wasatch mountains, the 2022 black and yellow turn and return to purple, and ownership by Ryan Smith since 2020.
- Denver Nuggets — The ABA club that began as the Denver Rockets in 1967, took the Nuggets name in 1974, wore a rainbow city skyline from 1982 to 1993 and made its circular pick-axe the primary logo in 2018.
- Houston Rockets — The club founded in San Diego in 1967 and named for “a city in motion,” its move to Houston in 1971, the ketchup-and-mustard logo, the 1995 cartoon rocket, the 2003 “R” by Eiko Ishioka and Rafael Esquer, and the 2019 and 2026 updates.
- Orlando Magic — The 1989 expansion club named through an Orlando Sentinel contest, its black, electric blue and silver pinstripes, the star that replaced the “A,” the Jhane Barnes star uniforms, Stuff the Magic Dragon and the 2025 return to the original look.
NBA teams V
Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Cleveland Cavaliers — The 1970 expansion club named through a Plain Dealer contest, its wine and gold, the orange and blue years from 1983, the 2003 sword, the 2017 shield set and the 2022 refresh that dropped navy and brought back metallic gold.
- Indiana Pacers — The 1967 ABA club named for the Indianapolis 500 pace car and harness racing, its blue and gold from the Indiana flag, the 1990 uniform designed by Florence Griffith Joyner, the 2005 roundel and the 2017 “We Grow Basketball Here” refresh.
- Milwaukee Bucks — The 1968 expansion club named for Wisconsin’s white-tailed deer, its green and red years, the 1993 purple, Bango the mascot since 1977, and the 2015 rebrand by Doubleday & Cartwright built on Good Land green, Cream City cream and Great Lakes blue.
- Minnesota Timberwolves — The 1989 expansion club named after a vote of Minnesota city councils, the wolf over a tree line from 1996, the howling wolf and North Star drawn by RARE Design in 2017, and ownership that passed from Glen Taylor to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in 2025.
- Oklahoma City Thunder — The franchise founded as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967, moved to Oklahoma City by Clay Bennett’s group in 2008 while the Sonics name, logo and colours stayed in Seattle, and relaunched that September with a sky blue, sunset and yellow palette.
NBA teams VI
Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets.
- Portland Trail Blazers — The 1970 name contest, Harry Glickman’s expansion club, the red and black pinwheel of two five-man teams and its 1991, 2002 and 2017 updates, the diagonal sash, “Rip City” uniforms, and the group led by Tom Dundon that has owned the team since 2026.
- Sacramento Kings — The Rochester Seagrams and Royals, the move to Cincinnati in 1957, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings name of 1972, Sacramento since 1985, the 1994 switch to purple, silver and black, the 2016 return of the crown-and-ball logo, and the group Vivek Ranadivé has led since 2013.
- Memphis Grizzlies — The 1995 Vancouver expansion club that moved to Memphis in 2001 and kept its name, adopted navy, Beale Street blue and gold in 2004, and refreshed its bear head, claw ball and uniforms in August 2018.
- Charlotte Hornets — The 1988 expansion club named after a “hornet’s nest” remark from 1780, dressed in teal and purple pinstripes by Alexander Julian, replaced by the Bobcats from 2004 and renamed the Hornets again in 2014.
NBA teams VII
New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards.
- New Orleans Pelicans — The Charlotte Hornets franchise that moved to New Orleans in 2002, was renamed after Louisiana’s state bird under Tom Benson in 2013, took navy, gold and red from state and city flags, and has been owned by Gayle Benson since 2018.
- Los Angeles Clippers — The 1970 Buffalo Braves franchise renamed the Clippers in San Diego in 1978 after the bay’s sailing ships, moved to Los Angeles in 1984, owned by Steve Ballmer since 2014 and given a clipper-ship logo for its 2024 move to Intuit Dome.
- Washington Wizards — The 1961 Chicago Packers franchise that became the Baltimore Bullets in 1963, moved to the Washington area in 1973, was renamed the Wizards by Abe Pollin in 1997 and returned to red, white and blue under Ted Leonsis in 2011.
WNBA teams
Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun.
- Las Vegas Aces — The 1997 Utah Starzz, renamed the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2003, rebranded as the Aces by MGM Resorts in December 2017 with a red, white and black diamond, and moved to silver, black and white under Mark Davis in March 2024.
- New York Liberty — A founding WNBA team of 1997, bought by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai in January 2019, moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and given its first new logo in April 2020: the New York shield and torch in black, white and seafoam.
- Indiana Fever — The WNBA expansion team named in December 1999 for its 2000 debut at Conseco Fieldhouse, owned by Herb Simon, with a logo by designer Todd Radom in Pacer Blue and Pacer Yellow with a red accent.
- Seattle Storm — The WNBA club named for Seattle’s weather in 2000, which began in the SuperSonics’ pine green and maroon, switched to green and yellow in 2016 and in 2021 set the Space Needle inside basketball ribs under a Mount Rainier peak.
- Chicago Sky — The WNBA club unveiled at the Adler Planetarium in September 2005 in sky blue and yellow with a Flow Creative logo, redrawn with David Day Associates in 2018 with black and grey added, and given Skye the Lioness as mascot in 2024.
- Connecticut Sun — The former Orlando Miracle, bought by the Mohegan Tribe and renamed for Mohegan Sun in 2003, whose orange sunburst logo carried a modern take on a Mohegan symbol and whose 2021 Nike jersey spelled Keesusk, the Mohegan word for sun.
At a glance: founding, owner and base
Taken from each guide’s fact panel, as of October 2026. Ownership changes; follow the link for sources and detail.
| Brand | Founded | Home | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Buffalo, New York, as the Buffalo Bisons of the NBL (1946) | Renamed: Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Moline, Illinois | Group led by Tony Ressler, since 2015 |
| Boston Celtics | Boston, Massachusetts, in the Basketball Association of America (1946) | Founder: Walter A. Brown, president of the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation | Group led by Bill Chisholm, since 2025 |
| Brooklyn Nets | Teaneck, New Jersey, as the New Jersey Americans (ABA) (1967) | Brooklyn: Moved to Barclays Center; black-and-white logos | Owned by Joseph Tsai, per Wikipedia |
| Charlotte Hornets | Debut: Teal and purple pinstripes by Alexander Julian (1988) | Moved: Original franchise left for New Orleans | Returned: Bobcats renamed the Charlotte Hornets |
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois, as an NBA expansion franchise (1966) | Founder: Dick Klein | Majority owner Jerry Reinsdorf, since 1985 |
| Chicago Sky | Unveiled: Name, logo and colours at the Adler Planetarium (2005) | Moved: From Rosemont back into the city, at Wintrust Arena | Mascot: Skye the Lioness replaces Sky Guy |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | NBA expansion club under Nick Mileti (1970) | Orange: Gund brothers swap wine and gold for orange and blue | Navy dropped, metallic gold restored |
| Connecticut Sun | WNBA expansion club as the Orlando Miracle (1999) | Renamed: Bought by the Mohegan Tribe and moved to Uncasville | Bought by the Mohegan Tribe and moved to Uncasville |
| Dallas Mavericks | Dallas, Texas, as an NBA expansion franchise (1980) | Founders: Donald Carter and Norm Sonju | Adelson and Dumont families, controlling owners |
| Denver Nuggets | ABA charter club, renamed the Denver Rockets (1967) | Renamed: Became the Denver Nuggets | Pick-axe logo made primary |
| Detroit Pistons | Fort Wayne, Indiana, as a Zollner Corporation works team (1930s) | Founder: Fred Zollner | Owned by Tom Gores |
| Golden State Warriors | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Basketball Association of America (1946) | Moved: San Francisco Bay Area; renamed Golden State in 1971 | Group led by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, since 2010 |
| Houston Rockets | San Diego Rockets, NBA expansion team (1967) | Houston: Franchise moved to Texas | Owned by Tilman Fertitta, per Wikipedia |
| Indiana Fever | Named: Fever, announced by Kelly Krauskopf (1999) | Debut: First WNBA season, Indianapolis | Herb Simon, Pacers owner |
| Indiana Pacers | ABA charter club in Indianapolis (1967) | Owners: Herb and Melvin Simon buy the team | Refresh: Nike sets and a state-outline logo |
| Las Vegas Aces | Utah Starzz, Salt Lake City (1997) | Moved: San Antonio Silver Stars | Las Vegas Aces under MGM Resorts |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Buffalo Braves, NBA expansion club (1970) | Renamed: San Diego Clippers, after the bay’s sailing ships | San Diego Clippers, after the bay’s sailing ships |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Origin: Detroit Gems, National Basketball League (1946) | Renamed: Minneapolis Lakers, after Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen bought the club | Majority owner Mark Walter, since October 2025 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | NBA expansion club in Vancouver (1995) | Moved: Relocated to Memphis, name kept | Refreshed: Steel gray outline and an M in the claw ball |
| Miami Heat | Miami, Florida, as an NBA expansion team (1988) | Founders: Billy Cunningham and Lewis Schaffel, backed by Ted Arison | Micky Arison, in control since 1995 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | NBA expansion franchise awarded (1968) | Bango: Mascot makes his home debut | Cream City cream, by Doubleday & Cartwright |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Named: Timberwolves chosen over Polars by city councils (1987) | Debut: Expansion club takes the court | North Star: Howling wolf by RARE Design |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Moved: Charlotte Hornets relocate to New Orleans (2002) | Renamed: Pelicans name, logos and colours unveiled | Gayle Benson takes control |
| New York Knicks | New York City, in the Basketball Association of America (1946) | Founder: Ned Irish, then president of Madison Square Garden | Madison Square Garden Sports, executive chairman James L. Dolan |
| New York Liberty | One of the eight original WNBA teams (1997) | Sold: Bought by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai | Mascot: Ellie the Elephant introduced |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Seattle SuperSonics join the NBA (1967) | Sold: Clay Bennett’s group buys the club | Named: Thunder name and logo revealed |
| Orlando Magic | Named: Orlando Sentinel contest; “Magic” announced (1986) | Debut: NBA expansion club, pinstriped uniforms | Star trail and pinstripes revived |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Syracuse, New York, as the Syracuse Nationals (1946) | Moved: Philadelphia, renamed 76ers after a public contest | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, led by Josh Harris, since 2011 |
| Phoenix Suns | Phoenix, Arizona, as an NBA expansion club (1968) | Name: Chosen through an Arizona Republic contest | Mat and Justin Ishbia, since 2023 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Portland, Oregon, NBA expansion franchise (1970) | Memorial Coliseum, then Rose Garden / Moda Center | Group led by Tom Dundon, since 2026 |
| Sacramento Kings | Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals (NBL) (1945) | Moved: Cincinnati 1957, Kansas City-Omaha as the Kings | Group led by Vivek Ranadivé, since 2013 |
| San Antonio Spurs | Dallas, Texas, as the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals (1967) | Moved: To San Antonio, renamed the Spurs | Managing partner Peter J. Holt, since 2021 |
| Seattle Storm | Named: Storm confirmed for the WNBA expansion club (2000) | Sold: Force 10 Hoops buys the club from the Sonics’ owners | Redrawn: Space Needle in basketball ribs, Mount Rainier peak |
| Toronto Raptors | Toronto, Ontario, as an NBA expansion franchise (1993) | Named: Through a nationwide contest; unveiled on national television | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, since 1998 |
| Utah Jazz | New Orleans, Louisiana, as the New Orleans Jazz (1974) | Moved: Salt Lake City, keeping the Jazz name | Ryan Smith, since 2020 |
| Washington Wizards | Chicago Packers, then Zephyrs (1961) | Moved: Baltimore Bullets, then Capital and Washington Bullets | Wizards, in blue, black and bronze |
See also all collections.