NBA Pioneers

2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the first Black basketball players to enter into the NBA.

The league brought Champions Design back to develop the iconography and type system for the NBA Pioneers initiative, celebrating the historic 1950 draft that saw Chuck Cooper, Nat Clifton, and Earl Lloyd pave the way for future generations.

Learn more about the work here.

Logo, Identity, Iconography

Announcement of the Pioneers initiative at the 2025 NBA Draft. Photo by Michael Penda.

In-market examples captured from live retail websites and Instagram. Products designed, manufactured and sold by Mitchell & Ness.

TeamPartner: Jennifer Kinon
Creative Director: Michael McCaughley
Lead Designer: Michael Penda
Producer: Haley Kattner Allen

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