Kobe Bryant was a giant in the game of basketball. A legendary figure and one of the most iconic players in NBA history, the "Black Mamba" won five NBA Finals, an NBA MVP, was named to 18 All-Star games and scored the fourth-most points in the league's history.
The man who inspired us to yell "Kobe!" upon shooting paper balls into trash cans was truly one of the sport's all-time stars. He impacted so many people over his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and 41 years on Earth, which is why is the world mourned the death of him and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna following a helicopter crash that killed nine people in Calabasas, California.
NBA players and former teammates and coaches of the Lakers legend reacted to the tragic death as the news spread. Many, like Doc Rivers, wept. Michael Jordan said he loved him like a little brother, and LeBron James was seen crying at the Los Angeles International Airport after learning of Kobe Bryant's death. The Dallas Mavericks retired the No. 24 to honor Bryant.
NBA Remembers Kobe Bryant
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver summed up Kobe Bryant's life perfectly in a statement:
"The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
"For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.
"We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world."
Kobe Bryant Petition to Change the NBA Logo
Now, it's time to honor Mamba in a way that forever cements himself as an integral piece of the NBA: By making Kobe Bryant the new NBA logo.
Over two three million basketball fans and people around the world signed this petition on Change.org calling for the replacement of the current NBA logo, which features Jerry West, in favor of a silhouette of Bryant.
Someone by the name of Nick M. started the Change.org petition, entitled "Petition to make Kobe Bryant the new NBA Logo." The description reads: "With the untimely and unexpected passing of the great Kobe Bryant please sign this petition in an attempt to immortalize him forever as the new NBA Logo."
Jerry West Doesn't Want To Be The Logo Anymore
The current logo was created in 1969 by Alan Siegel, who used a picture taken by Wen Roberts. It features NBA Hall-of-Famer Jerry West, a Laker legend himself, dribbling a basketball. West's outline still stands as the league's official logo today.
West, whose nickname is "The Logo", said in 2017 that he doesn't want to be on the NBA logo anymore.
"I don't know, I don't like to do anything to call attention to myself, and when people say that, it's just not who I am, period," West told ESPN. "If they would want to change it, I wish they would. In many ways, I wish they would."
Who better than a fellow Lakers great like Kobe Bryant to replace him with and honor the NBA legend at the same time? There's a ton of shots and plays to choose from, but Kobe's signature fadeaway jumper would make for the perfect logo.
This is an easy call, Adam Silver.
This article was originally published January 27, 2020.
MORE: Baseball Coach, Family Killed in Crash That Took Kobe Bryant
Enjoy all things sports?
Don't miss a story! Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox.