Timberwolves New Logo vs. Old: A Before-and-After Review
A focused comparison of the Minnesota Timberwolves' current logo and the mark it replaced, covering which versions are compared, what changed visually and what to verify before using vector files.
Contents
The short answer
In most comparisons, the "new" Minnesota Timberwolves logo is the primary mark introduced with the franchise's 2017 rebrand. The "old" logo is the mark that came before it, used from 2008 to 2017. The 2017 redesign replaced a more literal, aggressive wolf illustration with a simplified, forward-facing wolf head inside a circular badge. It also replaced the team's earlier color scheme with a new palette that the team presented as inspired by Minnesota's northern landscape and night sky.
Evidence gap: No source images, official style guides or team announcements were provided for this review. The version dates, color names and element descriptions below come from widely reported background knowledge, not from verified documents. Check them against official team or league materials before relying on them. If the franchise has introduced a newer primary mark since the 2017 identity, this comparison does not cover it.
Which logos are being compared
The Timberwolves have used more than one primary logo since the franchise began in 1989, so "old" can mean different things depending on the source. Some comparisons use the original late-1980s/early-1990s mark. Others use the darker, more illustrative mid-1990s to 2000s version. Most current comparisons set the 2017 logo against its direct predecessor. This article uses that direct before-and-after pairing unless noted otherwise.
It also helps to separate the primary logo from the rest of the identity system. A team identity usually includes secondary marks, wordmarks and alternate logos. Comparing the full set from one era with a single badge from another can make the change look bigger or smaller than it really was.
What changed, at a glance
| Aspect | Pre-2017 primary logo (old) | 2017 primary logo (new) |
| Overall construction | Illustrative wolf head combined with team typography and basketball-related imagery | Self-contained circular badge built around a stylized wolf head |
| Wolf rendering | More detailed and expressive, with a snarling, aggressive look | Simplified, flatter shapes with a calmer, more symbolic expression |
| Regional reference | Northern forest imagery, such as tree forms, in some versions of the team's marks | A star motif commonly described as a North Star reference, tied to Minnesota's "North Star State" nickname |
| Color approach | Blue, green, black and silver tones | A named palette widely reported as Midnight Blue, Lake Blue, Aurora Green, Moonlight Grey and Frost White |
| Scalability (interpretation) | Fine detail and integrated text can blur at small sizes | Fewer, bolder shapes in a closed shape tend to hold up better on small and digital uses |
How to read this table: the construction and rendering rows describe features you can see when the two marks are placed side by side. The North Star meaning and the palette names reflect how the redesign was publicly presented, so they are documented claims rather than things you can see. The scalability row is editorial interpretation based on general logo-design principles, not a measured test.
What the redesign means in practice
The change follows a broad trend in sports branding toward simpler, badge-style marks. These work better as small social media avatars, app icons, embroidery and on-court graphics. A circular, self-contained badge gives designers a predictable outline to place on any background. Detailed illustrations with attached text are harder to reproduce consistently. Whether the newer look is better is a matter of taste. Some fans and designers prefer the energy of the older wolf, while others favor the cleaner, more versatile current mark.
A caution for anyone working with vector files
Files labeled as SVG, EPS, AI or PDF versions of either Timberwolves logo are not automatically clean vector artwork. A file with a vector extension can still contain an embedded raster image, auto-traced paths with uneven curves, or wrong colors. Open the file and inspect the paths and color values before treating it as accurate. Compare it against an official reference wherever possible.
Finding a logo file online also does not give you permission to use it. Team logos are trademarks owned by the franchise and the league. Commercial, merchandise or promotional use generally requires a license. Editorial or personal use may follow different rules depending on where you are and the context. Confirm usage rights through official channels before reproducing either mark.