The Los Angeles Clippers logo in use today is a nautical roundel unveiled on February 26, 2024, ahead of the team’s move into the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. It combines a stylized “C”, a compass and an oncoming ship whose hull carries basketball seams.
The franchise began as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 and moved to San Diego in 1978, where a naming contest produced “Clippers,” a nod to the sailing ships in San Diego Bay. It moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and kept the name.
What is the Los Angeles Clippers Logo?
The Los Angeles Clippers logo is a circular emblem unveiled on February 26, 2024, with a “C” holding a compass and a ship that appears to sail toward the viewer. Basketball seams mark the hull, and the team name runs around the edge in a custom typeface. No individual designer has been publicly credited.
| Los Angeles Clippers logo at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Roundel with a “C” and compass, a ship with basketball seams on the hull, and the team name around the edge |
| Designer/Agency | Not publicly credited; the rebrand was announced by the team, with president of business operations Gillian Zucker speaking for it |
| Current version since | February 26, 2024 (worn from the 2024-25 season) |
| Colors (hex) | Navy blue, red, light blue and gray; the team has not published hex codes in the sources checked |
| Typeface | Custom lettering modeled on the markings on gray naval hulls; not a commercial font |
| Previous major version | The 2015 “CLIPPERS” wordmark with a basketball holding an “LA” monogram (2015-2024) |
How Has the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Evolved Over Time?
The franchise has had a new look for each move and for each major ownership change, and the logo history is split across three cities. A designer is not publicly credited for any of these marks.
Buffalo Braves Logo (1970-1972)
The first Braves logo showed a blue bison on a spray of red feathers, with “Buffalo Braves” below it. The team started in 1970 as one of three NBA expansion teams, alongside Portland and Cleveland. The colors were blue, orange and red.
Buffalo Braves Logo (1972-1978)
The Braves later swapped the bison for a stylized blue “B” with an arrowhead feather, and “Buffalo Braves” in red italics. Bob McAdoo led the team through its eight Buffalo seasons, and in 1978 it left for San Diego.
San Diego Clippers Logo (1978-1982)
After the move, a naming contest chose “Clippers” because local officials felt “Braves” did not suit San Diego. The new logo was an abstract emblem of white triangular sails and a red sun in a blue circle, with “Clippers” in large lettering. This is the origin of the nautical idea that returned in 2024.
San Diego Clippers Basketball Logo (1982-1984)
The sail emblem was replaced by a wordmark in light blue and red inside a basketball outline, with seam lines running behind the lettering. Sources give slightly different switch years for this one, so treat 1982 as approximate.
Los Angeles Clippers Logo (1984-2010)
When Donald Sterling moved the team to Los Angeles in 1984, “San Diego” became “Los Angeles” and the red and blue basketball wordmark carried on. This is the Clippers logo most people mean when they search for the old Clippers logo, and it lasted about 26 years. Its wordmark is commonly identified as Baskerville Old Style Heavy.
Los Angeles Clippers Logo (2010-2015)
A modified version of the wordmark and secondary logos was unveiled on the night of the 2010 NBA draft, with new uniforms that August. The change was minor: seam direction reversed and the blue darkened.
Los Angeles Clippers Logo (2015-2024)
After Steve Ballmer bought the team in 2014, the Clippers reviewed the name, logo, colors and arena. Fans were not interested in a name change, so the team kept “Clippers” and introduced a new look in 2015. It showed a bold “CLIPPERS” wordmark below a basketball holding a stacked “LA” wrapped in a “C,” with red and blue arcs. Black was added as a color.
Current Los Angeles Clippers Logo (2024-Present)
The roundel arrived on February 26, 2024. The team said it wanted a look that felt modern but as if it had been around forever. Black was dropped from the palette and the identity leans harder into navy.
What Do the Design Elements of the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Mean?
The ship is the central element and refers to the clipper ships that once sailed into San Diego Bay. Basketball seams on the hull tie that history to the sport, and partial versions of the logo isolate either the ship or the “C” with its compass.
The compass sits inside the “C,” and its north point aims at the “N” in “Los Angeles” around the edge. Court details extend the idea: Inglewood’s latitude and longitude run along the sideline, and the red uniform has nautical flags on the side panels that spell “LAC.”
What Colors Are in the Los Angeles Clippers Logo?
Wikipedia lists the team colors as navy blue, ember red, Pacific blue and silver, while SportsLogos.net lists navy blue, red, light blue and gray, with light blue and gray as accents. The global logo has red and powder blue rings, an idea credited to the NBA’s Christopher Arena. The team has not released exact color codes in the sources checked, so none are given here. If you need RGB, CMYK or Pantone values, ask the team’s licensing office or sample them from an official file.
The hue shift is simple to describe: the 2015 identity used red, blue and black, and the 2024 identity moves toward navy and drops black. Clippers fans looking for the old Clippers colors will recall bright red and royal blue.
What Font Does the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Use?
The 2024 lettering around the roundel is custom, and ESPN reported that it is modeled on the markings on gray naval hulls. The team has not named a commercial typeface, so there is no standard font to download. The font shown above is the earlier 2015 wordmark, a bold condensed sans-serif font with beveled edges that has also been custom drawn. The pre-2010 wordmark is commonly identified as Baskerville Old Style Heavy, a serif face. For a similar free look to the 2015 wordmark, try a heavy condensed sans such as Anton or Bebas Neue.
The scripted “LA” on the shorts waistband places the “A” on top of the “L,” and the red uniform has a “Clips” wordmark, so the identity now uses typography in several ways, not one.
What Are the Hidden Meanings in the Los Angeles Clippers Logo?
The ship’s bow-on angle is meant to give a charging feel. A stylized “C” secondary mark blends a compass with a rope-loop hook, and the “N” in “Angeles” on the court points north. These are described in team and press coverage, and the team has not given a deeper story.
How Does the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Compare to Competitor Logos?
The Clippers’ nautical theme stands apart from most NBA franchises. While the Boston Celtics logo uses a leprechaun mascot and the Chicago Bulls logo features an animal, the Clippers use maritime imagery.
The Los Angeles Lakers logo dominates the city with purple and gold, and the Clippers’ navy and red set them apart. The Clippers now play at Intuit Dome, while the Lakers play at Crypto.com Arena.
Among NBA logos, the circular badge format resembles the Golden State Warriors logo and Philadelphia 76ers logo, both of which use text around the edge. The Miami Heat logo suggests climate through a flaming ball, while the Clippers use their name’s literal meaning.
What Cultural Impact Has the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Had?
The 2024 redesign was not universally loved. One outlet called the compass-and-ship mix confusing, and one logo site said the ship reads more like a cruise liner than a vintage sailboat at small sizes. The return to San Diego’s nautical story was the part most coverage pointed to.
The change came with the Intuit Dome, the franchise’s first arena of its own. Before that the Clippers shared Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers from 1999 to 2024.
How Does the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Fit Into the Overall Brand Identity?
The 2024-25 kits come in white Association, navy Icon and red Statement editions. The Association and Icon uniforms carry an updated Clippers script wordmark across the chest, and the Statement uniform has “Los Angeles” in script.
On court, the global logo sits at center, with a “Los Angeles” wordmark in the lower half and an Intuit Dome wordmark in light blue. The balance of navy and red with small accents keeps the floor readable.
How Should the Los Angeles Clippers Logo Be Used?
This is generic advice, not the team’s rules. The Clippers logo is a trademark of the team’s owner, so commercial use on products needs permission, while editorial use such as news and commentary is treated differently. Check the rules where you live.
When placing a team logo in a design, start from a clean original file, such as vector graphics, keep proportions and colors unchanged, and avoid busy backgrounds. A one-color version is a monochrome colors treatment only when the owner provides it. For print design, use a high-resolution or vector file.
FAQ on the Los Angeles Clippers Logo
When was the Los Angeles Clippers logo created?
The current logo was unveiled on February 26, 2024, for the 2024-25 season and the Intuit Dome. The previous major logo dates to 2015.
Who designed the Los Angeles Clippers logo?
No designer has been publicly credited. Gillian Zucker, the team’s president of business operations, spoke for the 2024 rebrand, and the NBA’s Christopher Arena is credited with the idea for the red and powder blue rings.
What do the colors in the Los Angeles Clippers logo mean?
The team has not published meanings for its colors. Its palette is navy blue and red, with light blue and gray accents, and black was dropped in 2024.
What did the old Los Angeles Clippers logo look like?
From 1984 to 2010 the logo was a red and blue “Los Angeles Clippers” wordmark inside a basketball outline, with seam lines behind the lettering. Since 2015 the team had a bold “CLIPPERS” wordmark with an LA basketball monogram.
How many times has the Los Angeles Clippers logo been redesigned?
Counting the Buffalo years, the franchise has had about nine logos: Braves bison (1970), Braves “B” (1972), San Diego sails (1978), San Diego basketball (1982), Los Angeles (1984), a 2010 update, the 2015 mark and the 2024 roundel.
What font is used in the Los Angeles Clippers logo?
The 2024 lettering is custom and modeled on gray naval hull markings. The older wordmark is commonly identified as Baskerville Old Style Heavy.
Why did the Clippers choose a ship for their logo?
The name “Clippers” came from a 1978 contest after the move to San Diego and refers to the sailing ships of San Diego Bay. The 2024 logo returns to that idea.
Where does the name Clippers come from?
It was chosen in a naming contest in 1978 when the Buffalo Braves moved to San Diego. The team kept the name when it moved to Los Angeles in 1984.
What are the Los Angeles Clippers colors?
Navy blue, red, light blue and gray. Wikipedia names them navy blue, ember red, Pacific blue and silver.
Is the Los Angeles Clippers logo trademarked?
Yes. Team logos are trademarks of the team’s owner, so commercial use requires permission.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles Clippers logo has changed with each move and each owner: Buffalo’s bison and “B,” San Diego’s sails and basketball, Los Angeles’s red and blue wordmark, the 2015 “LA” ball and the 2024 ship roundel. The 2024 version returns to the idea behind the name.
No designer has been publicly named for any of the marks, so the story is best told through the team’s own decisions: keep the name, add a ship, drop black, and build the brand around the Intuit Dome.
If you liked this article about the Los Angeles Clippers logo, you should check out this article about the Portland Trail Blazers logo.
There are also similar articles discussing the San Antonio Spurs logo, the New Orleans Pelicans logo, the Philadelphia 76ers logo, and the Boston Celtics logo.
And let’s not forget about articles on the Indiana Pacers logo, the Oklahoma City Thunder logo, the Phoenix Suns logo, and the Charlotte Hornets logo.
Sources
- SportsLogos.Net News, Los Angeles Clippers Unveil New Logos, Uniforms, Court for 2024-25 Season – https://news.sportslogos.net/2024/02/26/los-angeles-clippers-unveil-new-logos-uniforms-court-for-2024-25-season/basketball/
- ESPN, Clippers new uniforms and logos – https://global.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39586633/nba-story-clippers-new-uniforms-logos
- Wikipedia, Los Angeles Clippers – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Clippers
- NBA.com, Behind The Name – Clippers – https://www.nba.com/clippers/news/behind_the_name.html
- Logos World, Los Angeles Clippers Logo – https://logos-world.net/los-angeles-clippers-logo/
- Christian Today, Los Angeles Clippers NBA 2015 news: A new look unveiled by owner Steve Ballmer – https://www.christiantoday.com/news/los-angeles-clippers-nba-2015-news-a-new-look-for-the-franchise-unveiled-by-owner-steve-ballmer
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.
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Bogdan Sandu is a seasoned designer who has been designing websites since 2008. Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients. His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8. He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.
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