After years of fan complaints on social media, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed a significant change for the league’s championship series. The iconic Larry O’Brien trophy graphic, a staple of past broadcasts, will return to the hardwood for the NBA Finals this season, restoring a classic visual many felt was missing from the sport’s biggest stage.
Why Did the NBA Bring Back the Finals Trophy Logo?
Many fans took to social media during last season’s NBA Finals to discuss the absence of pre-game fanfare. Key elements were missing, such as the national anthem presentation and the trophy graphic at center court. The presentation felt oddly low-key, especially considering the incredible series on display that saw the Oklahoma City Thunder edge out the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
Furthermore, the sheer abundance of advertisements was hard to miss. The lack of graphics for the trophy the teams were competing for, displayed on a bare hardwood floor, stood in stark contrast to the blindingly bright colors of the NBA Cup floors seen during the regular season. As a result, fans were unhappy with the commissioner’s choices and expressed their discontent online.
Following the backlash, ESPN’s NBA insider, Shams Charania, updated fans that the league will return to displaying the painted form of the Larry O’Brien trophy at center court and the “Finals” script logo for the home team’s floor this year.
The NBA will return to painting the Larry O’Brien trophy at center court and Finals script logo on the home team’s floor for the Finals starting this season, per sources. The last time the large trophy was painted on court was 2009. pic.twitter.com/QsFOTFZCSa
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 22, 2025
In response, Silver admitted that fans’ concerns on social media forced the league to reconsider and enact the change.
Silver told The Athletic: “To be honest, I hadn’t thought all that much about it until I [saw] it [on social media]. I’m nostalgic, as well, for certain things. I think for a media-driven culture, whether it’s people watching live or seeing those images on social media, it’s nice when you’re looking back on highlights and they stand out because you see that trophy logo or some other indication that it’s a special event. So, we’ll look at it.”
Silver also explained why he moved away from the half-court logo in recent finals, citing player safety concerns. “One of the reasons we moved away from the logos on the courts is, whether it was perception or reality, there was a sense that maybe the logos added some slipperiness to the court.”
While it is unclear if court surfaces were adversely affected in past finals, as Silver speculated, that argument became harder after the league introduced numerous designs for the NBA Cup floors. Ultimately, this reversal is a positive sign that fans have a strong voice in the NBA’s culture and that the commissioner is willing to listen.
