ESPN REPORT: LA Clippers Sign 5-star QB.
With a brand-new arena almost ready to open, the LA Clippers weren’t done making ripples or splashes.
With the release of three exclusive jerseys, a new logo, and a first look at the first court that will grace Intuit Dome when it opens in October, the organization revealed a new rebranding on Monday.
The Clippers, who have devoted the last few years to forging their own identity and blazing a trail, are well-timed for this rebranding. It was clear that things were about to change the moment owner Steve Ballmer showed up for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Intuit Dome in 2021.
Ballmer never saw the franchise as being able to settle for less. That would have required them to continue sharing the same arena for more than 25 years and put up with the associated scheduling difficulties. However, being content would have also meant continuing the dull color scheme and logo that the fans had grown weary of.
A few weeks ago, Clippers star Paul George alluded to a possible change in jerseys on his podcast, but no one foresaw the extensive makeover they were planning behind closed doors.
The management realized how much the red colorway was missed and wants to make up for it with the new uniform lineup. Since the 2015–17 collection, which was released the year before Nike assumed control of the NBA’s uniform manufacture and marketing, this will be the team’s first red jersey.
Designed to represent the team’s official “Statement” uniform, it will also showcase a unique element on the side: nautical flags that represent the initials “LAC.” This is one of those understated touches that elevates the uniform and delves into the team’s history.
A BIT MORE FOR YOU
Apple Verifies Magnificent Special Offer for MacBook Pro
Macy’s is set to close 150 stores in the next three years.
Trump Will Pay Over $111,000 Every Day to Appeal Fraud Decision
Shears
In response to public demand, the franchise is reintroducing the red.GREETINGS: LA CLIPPERS
Join SportsMoney Playbook to receive the most recent sports news along with insight on billionaire owners, signings, gamblers, and values.
Electronic mail address
Register
By registering, you recognize and agree to our privacy statement as well as our terms of service, which waive certain rights to class action lawsuits and arbitration. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service are applicable, and Forbes is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA.
The return of the script lettering is arguably the largest change. It’s not only a tribute to the early 2000s, but it’s also really awesome to see, far superior to the typeface they’ve been using since 2015. Really, it’s not even in the same galaxy.
The navy blue word “Los Angeles” will be displayed on the red jersey, while the red word “Clippers” will appear on the blue jersey. Obviously, the white will enable them to display a lovely blend of the two colors:
Shears
The three new jerseys for the Clippers’ rebranding were revealed today.COURTESY: LAS CLIPPERS
Indeed, this suggests that the Clippers are eschewing their use of black uniform variations. For the first launch, anyway. The majority of the fan base was getting tired of the eye-catching black statement shirts featuring the unlikable emblem. Given that Nike aims to release new designs essentially every year, I wouldn’t count out seeing a black version of the aforementioned jerseys in the future, maybe for a “City” version.
However, giving up on black was a smart move from the start. It only seems fitting to bring some fresh hues to the table while venturing into a completely new arena.
It will take some getting acclimated to the new worldwide logo. That’s always the case when anything significant shifts. Still, praise should be given for the degree of detail and careful attention to this design:
Shears
Because the Clippers leaned into their maritime aesthetic, designing the new logo required a great deal of detail. [+]GREETINGS: LA CLIPPERS
It is similar to the Bucks’ 2015 redesigned logo in a few instances. Milwaukee took care to accentuate the viciousness of the deer’s antlers by incorporating the form of a basketball. The buck also had a lovely detail that might be overlooked at first glance—its midsection was shaped like the letter “M.”
The central compass of the Clippers’ new logo is linked to an approaching ship. However, you’ll see that the compass is pointing toward Los Angeles’s “N,” indicating that the franchise is always progressing.
The company claims that the new typeface has a unique appearance that is intended to emulate naval typography, reinforcing the nautical motif.
It’s likely that new supporters who have only been around for the past ten years are unaware that the team’s name is derived from a ship or sailing vessel from the mid-1800s. However, it will now take center stage. In Monday’s official press release, the team stated that it was crucial to respect the Clippers’ San Diego Harbor origins.
If I were being picky, I would have two objections:
They could have tried modeling the boat after a sailing ship instead of making it look like a bigger cruise liner. With the scale of the logo and the “moving forward” idea they decided on, that might have been difficult to achieve, but it was obvious right away that there was a difference.
Would it have made more sense to rebrand using the primary colors orange, navy, and pacific/sky blue? This might have been a chance to go back to the team’s original orange and blue color scheme, which was the foundation of the Buffalo Braves and San Diego Clippers franchises. During the 2021–2022 season, they tested it out using throwback uniforms, and it appeared to be a big success. Paul George recently declared that these were his favorite jerseys since joining the squad, and the majority of fans responded positively.
In October, when the Clippers relocate to the Intuit Dome, the floor will also have a new look. The red highlights on the floor make the center-court logo truly stand out. The painted area and court are surrounded by the navy.
For those who enjoy the finer points, here’s another brilliant addition: the sideline’s longitude and latitude indicate Inglewood’s position.
Shears
The first court to be revealed for the inaugural season at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome is the Los Angeles Clippers.
Compared to the Clippers’ 2015 revamp, this project’s execution is really excellent. It is evident that there is a great deal of detail involved, and this is directly related to the franchise’s past. It only made sense to embrace the motif if the intention was to keep the “Clippers” name rather than come up with suggestions for a total overhaul.
To be honest, we don’t see this very often in the NBA: clubs should embrace the true essence of their brand.
That can be challenging for certain teams. Consider the Thunder, Lakers, Jazz, Knicks, or Nets. Due to the franchise’s relocation, all of those are either difficult to develop a visual identity or campaign around, or they have no relevance to the city. One may argue that before anything else, a few of those should have new names.
However, the logo or team colors of some teams—like the Bucks, Heat, Suns, Grizzlies, or Hornets—directly correspond to their names. (However, if Miami decides to rename, nobody will be disappointed if they go the “Vice” route. In that case, the colorway should come first and the rest may be worked out later.
It just didn’t make sense for the team to be called the Clippers and then just wrap a giant “C” in a crimson “LA” and call it a day.
Your brand should have a narrative to tell. The next step should be to include as many people as possible in that tale so they may enjoy wearing the team’s gear on game days and supporting them with pride.
It is impossible to dispute objectively that the Clippers made a huge advancement in that goal today. The current logo lacked any visual appeal. When people witness this one in action, even its detractors will be persuaded to change their minds:
