After fans pleaded for the Larry O’Brien trophy to be in center-court of the NBA Finals, the NBA has
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Video Transcript
For the first time since 2009, the iconic Larry O’Brien Trophy will be returning to the NBA Finals court, which raises an important question: question: Can fan bullying act as a force for good?
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For years, fans begged the NBA to bring back the classic finals court look instead of digital graphics and temporary decals.
The trophy logo will now be painted directly onto the hardwood for this year’s finals.
What’s wild is that the logo wasn’t actually a long-running tradition.
The Larry O’Brien Trophy first appeared on the court during the 2005 NBA Finals between the Spurs and Pistons.
It stayed for just five seasons before disappearing after the Lakers-Magic Finals in 2009.
The reason?
Player safety.
Back then, the logo was applied using a big sticker, which could get slippery during games.
The NBA decided it wasn’t worth it and removed it entirely.
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But technology has changed, and this time, the trophy will be painted onto the court and sealed with a laminate finish.
So years from now when we’re watching the highlights from these finals, they’ll instantly feel different.
The Larry O’Brien Trophy won’t just be part of the championship story, it’ll literally be painted into NBA history.