During the NBA Cup games held in December, the court is easily recognizable by its unique design, and teams wear special uniforms to mark the occasion. Recently, the court used for Game 1 of the NBA Finals resembled the Oklahoma City Thunder’s court used in a random January game but lacked the typical Larry O’Brien Trophy and NBA Finals logos, showing only the regular Paycom logo.
This absence sparked discussion on NBA Twitter during Game 1, even though this trend has been ongoing for years. NBA commissioner Adam Silver hinted that symbols like the Larry O’Brien Trophy logo would return to the court next season, quoting Sam Amick from The Athletic. Silver expressed fondness for the trophy logo’s presence in highlight reels and social media, noting its visual importance.
Since 2014, large Larry O’Brien logos have not been featured on courts mainly due to safety concerns, as decals placed on the court surface were slippery. Unlike the NBA Cup, where there is ample time to embed logos beneath a protective coating, Finals games often have logos added last minute as decals on top of the floor, posing risks to players. While the league tried smaller courtroom logos in 2017 and during the 2020 bubble, it has been a while since the logo was fully integrated into the court.
This year, the missing logo caught attention both online and within the league itself. With modern broadcasting technology capable of adding graphics in real time, there may be safer ways to display court logos without jeopardizing player safety. Fans can expect to see the final logo on the court again for the 2026 NBA Finals, though it won’t be back this year.
Fan Take: This discussion highlights the balance between tradition and player safety, reminding fans how much thought goes into even the smallest details of the game experience. Bringing back the trophy logo safely could enhance the visual identity of finals games and deepen fans’ connection to the championship’s prestige.
