Hundreds of thousands have signed a petition that’s currently circulating online asking the NBA to change its logo to honor the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, as CBS reports.
Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna, 13, died on Sunday (Jan. 26) in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Seven others also perished in the crash, as they were flying to a basketball tournament for Bryant’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks.
“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,” creator Nick M wrote on the Change.org petition.
The petition had gained over 800,000 signatures and counting by Monday (Jan. 26). The NBA’s current logo features the silhouette of Los Angeles Lakers’ Jerry West and has been used since 1971.
After Bryant’s shocking death, the league released a statement saying it was “devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter.”
“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 … 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,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
Bryant played basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers for two decades, earning 5 NBA titles, two Olympic gold medals, and being named MVP of the NBA Finals twice. Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016.