The 2025 NBA Finals tipped off with a dramatic Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 5. Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch shot in the final seconds gave the Pacers a thrilling 111-110 win and set the tone for what could be a wild series.
While the action delivered, something felt off. As fans celebrated the close finish, social media quickly picked up on a different storyline — the court itself.
Fans Call Out Missing NBA Finals Court Flair
Viewers noticed that the usual NBA Finals branding was missing. There was no Larry O’Brien Trophy logo, no signature Finals script, and no standout court visuals that typically mark the league’s biggest event.
The issue sparked instant debate. After Game 1, fans flooded platforms like X and Reddit asking why the NBA’s premier series looked so plain, especially compared to the custom courts used during the flashy In-Season Tournament earlier this season.
The thunder nba FINALS court vs NBA cup court … How is the finals have none extra details pic.twitter.com/UqdnSzkvL3
— CEanalysis (@CEtalks) June 6, 2025
Now, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is weighing in.
Adam Silver Responds to Backlash Over Finals Court Look
In an interview Friday, Silver acknowledged the fan reaction and admitted the league is reconsidering its approach to court design during the Finals.
“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,” Silver said.
“And also, 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 told The Athletic.
This is the first time Silver has publicly addressed the Finals court design issue in years. And while the court’s minimalist look may have caught fans off guard, there’s a reason for it.
Why the NBA Removed Logos From the Court
The change goes back more than a decade. In 2014, the league quietly phased out center-court decals like the trophy and Finals script due to player safety concerns.
Back then, the decals were applied just before tip-off — laid directly on top of the arena’s hardwood floors. Unlike the painted In-Season Tournament courts that are sealed weeks in advance, these stickers had a reputation for becoming slick during games.
“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,” Silver said.
“It was a change sort of on the court that was coming just at the time of the Finals. Maybe it’s for superstitious reasons or just a sense from teams that we shouldn’t be changing things around such important competition. That’s largely why we stopped putting the logos on the court.”
The concern for player safety won out, but as this Finals series shows, fans still care deeply about the presentation. The visuals are part of the tradition. They help mark the moment, and they matter.
Could the NBA Bring the Finals Logos Back?
Silver seems open to change. He didn’t commit to a timeline, but acknowledged that the league will consider restoring the Finals’ visual identity in a safer, more modern way.
While it’s unclear whether anything will change before this year’s series ends, the conversation has already made an impact. Fans spoke up, and the league listened. The iconic trophy logo could soon make its return — this time with fewer risks and a bigger spotlight.
