Note: These are proposed, rejected or unused designs.
They were never official primary NBA team logos. The images are
preserved here as part of NBA branding and franchise history.
Atlanta Hawks
Two proposed Atlanta Hawks logo designs from 2001 that were not
adopted by the franchise.
Rejected Atlanta Hawks Logo Concept — 2001
Rejected Atlanta Hawks Logo Concept — 2001
Denver Nuggets
A proposed Denver Nuggets logo from 1998 that was never adopted.
The design has similarities to elements used by the Nuggets during
earlier eras.
Unused Denver Nuggets Logo Concept — 1998
View the history of Denver Nuggets logos
Dallas Mavericks
Two Dallas Mavericks logo concepts from 1999 that were considered
before the franchise eventually introduced a new identity in 2001.
Unused Dallas Mavericks Logo Concept — 1999
Alternate Dallas Mavericks Logo Concept — 1999
Houston Rockets
A proposed Houston Rockets logo from 1995 that was not selected when
the franchise redesigned its identity during the mid-1990s.
Unused Houston Rockets Logo Concept — 1995
New Jersey Nets — Swamp Dragons
One of the strangest proposed identity changes in NBA history came
when the New Jersey Nets considered becoming the
New Jersey Swamp Dragons during the 1990s.
Several logo and identity concepts were created, including both
Swamp Dragons and Fire Dragons designs.
New Jersey Swamp Dragons Concept
New Jersey Fire Dragons Concept
Alternate New Jersey Swamp Dragons Concept
Alternate New Jersey Fire Dragons Concept
New Jersey Swamp Dragons Alternate Concept
New Jersey Swamp Dragons Proposed Logo
The New Jersey Swamp Dragons Fiasco
The proposed Swamp Dragons identity became one of the most famous
unused rebranding ideas in professional basketball. The Nets explored
changing both the team's name and visual identity, and multiple logo
concepts were produced before the idea was ultimately abandoned.
The franchise remained the New Jersey Nets.
Philadelphia 76ers
A group of proposed Philadelphia 76ers designs from 2000 and 2001.
None of these concepts became the team's official primary logo.
Rejected Philadelphia 76ers Logo Concept
Rejected Philadelphia 76ers Logo Concept
Rejected Philadelphia 76ers Logo Concept
Rejected Philadelphia 76ers Logo Concept
Rejected Philadelphia 76ers Logo Concept
Rejected Philadelphia 76ers Logo Concept
San Antonio Spurs
A proposed San Antonio Spurs logo from 1995 that was not adopted by
the franchise.
Unused San Antonio Spurs Logo Concept — 1995
Toronto Dragons / Toronto Raptors
Before Toronto's NBA expansion franchise officially became the
Toronto Raptors, the name
Toronto Dragons was among the identities explored.
These unused designs show how the franchise might have looked under
the Dragons name.
Toronto Dragons Logo Concept
Toronto Dragons Alternate Logo Concept
Toronto Dragons Alternate Logo Concept
Proposed Name: Toronto Dragons
Final Name: Toronto Raptors
About These Logos
Professional sports teams often develop numerous logos and identity
concepts before selecting a final design. Some are rejected early in
the process, while others come close to becoming official branding.
The logos on this page represent some of the more unusual alternatives
considered during NBA franchise history.
Although these designs were never used as official primary team logos,
they remain an interesting part of the history of NBA branding,
expansion, relocation and franchise identity.
