Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers took place on Thursday night. Although there was plenty of hype throughout the day with pregame shows starting several hours before tip-off, the overall presentation and broadcast of the game left much to be desired.
In fact, many NBA fans took to social media to express their displeasure with the lack of pregame fanfare and disappointment with the look of the court.
NBA Fans Underwhelmed With Missing Finals Logo and Lack of Fanfare From Game 1
One thing that was clearly missing was the NBA Finals logo displayed on the court, which is typically custom when the final series is played, and fans didn’t let it slide.
Pointing to the NBA’s eccentric use of home courts during the in-season tournament, one fan asked, “So we can do this for 30 teams for a random tournament in November nobody asked for…But can’t get a ‘Finals’ or Larry O’Brien logo anywhere on the court for the most important 4-7 games of the season?”
So we can do this for 30 teams for a random tournament in November nobody asked for…
But can’t get a “Finals” or Larry O’Brien logo anywhere on the court for the most important 4-7 games of the season? pic.twitter.com/SNiSEsDCGF
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) June 6, 2025
Many fans were upset with the lack of pre-game fanfare as well.
“It’s the NBA Finals and the NBA didn’t even show the National Anthem, Pre-Game intros, no logo on court or jerseys,” they explained. “These are little things but they’re so important for the experience.”
It’s the NBA Finals and the NBA didn’t even show the National Anthem, Pre-Game intros, no logo on court or jerseys. These are little things but they’re so important for the experience.
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) June 6, 2025
Others continued to point out just how much more the NBA did with the court during the in-season tournament.
“NBA finals court look like a regular season game…but the in season tournament was doing s— like this,” another fan said, pointing to the Chicago Bulls’ red court during the in-season tournament as an example.
NBA writers also took notice.
“Everything about this NBA Finals presentation looks like a regular season game,” Chris Vannini of The Athletic tweeted. “Starting lineups on a quick graphic. No trophy or FINALS on the court. No patches on the jerseys. Just a tiny logo on the scorebug. It used to be better,” he added.
What happened to the game I love pic.twitter.com/rG4xi7lfVo
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) June 6, 2025
“What happened to the game I love,” Vannini asked while showing what courts and the overall presentation have looked like in the past.
Some fans blamed the corporatization of the sports world for the issues, pointing out the excessive amount of advertisements the NBA is involved with.
“No Larry on the court, youtube TV and corporate ads plastered everywhere, ads on the jerseys, ads for gambling companies every 30 seconds, no finals logo on the scorebug, finals games have the same presentation as tuesday games in October. Corporatization is ruining our sport,” one said.
no Larry on the court, youtube TV and corporate ads plastered everywhere, ads on the jerseys, ads for gambling companies every 30 seconds, no finals logo on the scorebug, finals games have the same presentation as tuesday games in october
Corporatization is ruining our sport https://t.co/U9gPDOyvhr
— Turn (@CousinTurn) June 5, 2025
Another fan pointed to the ads as well.
“they really don’t put the Finals logo on the courts anymore man all i’m seeing is ‘YouTubeTV.’”
they really don’t put the Finals logo on the courts anymore man all i’m seeing is “YouTubeTV” pic.twitter.com/8D6jAYzJ3j
— A ✩ (@adryanashton) June 6, 2025
Among the comments, NBA commissioner Adam Silver took much of the blame.
“In Adam Silver’s first full year as commissioner they removed the playoffs & Finals decals and started replacing it with ads,” one fan explained, adding, “Never forget what they took from us.”
In Adam Silver’s first full year as commissioner they removed the playoffs & Finals decals and started replacing it with ads.
Never forget what they took from us. pic.twitter.com/yGYWuAvKbA
— 𝓜𝓪𝓽𝓽 ✈️ (@mldiffley) June 6, 2025
Another fan even tweeted a short video of the aura and prestige that the NBA Finals used to bring.
The NBA Finals once had a unique aura, with build-up, promotion, and production that made the championship monumental… pic.twitter.com/bBSq4vC2gG
— MAL (@playoffMAL) June 5, 2025
NBA fans and writers alike hope the overall presentation is much improved when the Pacers and Thunder meet in Game 2 on Sunday night.
