The Golden State Warriors have become the darlings of the Western Conference, with three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and two world championships from those runs spawning talks that star guard Steph Curry and company could become a dynasty. Before the sniper and his peers dominated the league’s junior collection of clubs, the San Antonio Spurs reigned supreme, tallying six conference crowns and five titles between 1999 and 2014. Unlike other successful franchises across the sporting world, the Texas ballers avoided widespread hatred, with most detractors unable to label them as anything worse than “boring.” While their loyal fanbase should expect for the Spurs to remain relevant, especially for as long as they retain small forward Kawhi Leonard, those supporters have found something to gripe about, namely, the impending release of an alternative logo.
The supplemental emblem, which the organization could unveil at June 22’s Barclays Center-situated draft, has met with enough ire that fan Tavyn Weyman created a petition through change.org, likening the design to those employed by the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, teams that he says have become “BAD.” In affiliating a logo with a club’s competency, Weyman, dubbing himself “ONE VERY CONCERNED SPURS FAN,” sounds like a pretty superstitious follower, but no matter how much validity someone gives to the claim that an artistic representation could help or hinder someone’s ability to snag rebounds or convert three-point plays, he has attracted close to 300 fellow disgruntled backers.
The logo could join a main image that would not involve much alteration to the symbol the Spurs have donned since their 1976 entrance into the NBA. The decried branding tool, for which San Antonio Spurs LLC filed multiple trademark applications June 7, reflects teams’ decisions to feature basketballs in their designs and could end up on such products as garden gnomes and shower curtains. Along with Weyman’s condemnation, social media swipes have spurned the Spurs’ decision, with one dismayed devotee saying the organization should add a “D” to the “SA.”
With exactly a week until the draft, one wonders if the Spurs, who hold the 29th and 59th picks, will have their selections don caps with the alternative logo. Beyond that, one can also ponder how often the athletes will wear the secondary signifier. No matter the number, here’s hoping Weyman is ready either to shield his eyes or cheer with reckless abandon.
