Oakland Oaks

The Oakland Oaks were a charter member of the ABA in 1967, playing two seasons across the Bay from the NBA’s San Francisco (at the time) Warriors. Adding fuel to the rivalry was former Warrior Rick Barry, who sat out the 67–68 season and joined the Oaks for the 68–69 season, winning the ABA title. Design-wise, Oakland’s primary logo featured a lovable acorn dribbling a basketball in kelly green and athletic gold. My concept imagines what the Oaks could possibly look like if they never moved to DC in 1969. My primary logo design features an abstract circular oak tree in gold against a forest green and gold acorn/shield. Burnt orange trim is added for a retro feel that conveys the warmth and majesty of the mighty oak. The oak tree breaks down to a roundel version and an icon version.  A standalone O with an oak leaf hanging into the negative space creates a timeless icon that is equal parts academic and athletic. And no, I haven’t forgotten about the cartoon acorn, as a version has dribbled his way into our hearts and this concept. The typeface is a block serif with a collegiate flair, oak leaves and all. The Icon and Association uniforms feature OAKLAND arched over an acorn shield containing the player number on the front. The shorts feature the alternate logo within a circle worked into the trim. The Alternate uniform replaces the white on the Association uniform with athletic gold. The Pride uniforms throw it back to the Oaks’ ABA days, with OAKS in athletic gold and white across the chest on a sea of kelly green. With the Warriors moving back to San Francisco soon, I imagine the hypothetical universe in which the Oaks exist has the team playing in Oracle Arena. My court design contains yellow stain for the boundaries and the lane, which is trimmed in forest green. OAKLAND OAKS appears at each baseline, while the O mark and a row of diamonds adorn the sideline.