Trophy Logo Set for Center Court Return During NBA Finals
trophy-logo-set-for-center-court-return-during-nba-finals
The NBA plans to restore its signature Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy emblem to center court for every game of the 2025 NBA Finals, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday.
According to the sources, the gold trophy image and the traditional “Finals” script will be painted directly onto the hardwood of the host team’s arena rather than added digitally or applied as decals.
Fans raised complaints on social media during and after Game 1 of the 2024 Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers when the familiar logos were absent. Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the feedback at the time and said the league would examine ways to bring the court artwork back.
The center-court logo was last painted for the Finals in 2009. It was removed after players expressed concerns that floor decals were slippery, prompting the NBA to discontinue their use a decade ago.
“I’ve seen some of the chatter on social media around on-court decals,” Silver said during last season’s Finals broadcast on ESPN. “I’m nostalgic as well, and it’s nice when you’re looking back on highlights and they stand out because you see that trophy logo.”
No timetable was given for when teams will begin applying the artwork, but it is expected to appear for Game 1 of the 2025 championship series.
Source: ESPN
