No, it isn’t about the ratings.
The NBA Finals are underway, but if you looked at the court during Game 1 it would be hard to tell.
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The NBA Finals court used to have a certain charm to itCredit: Getty
That’s because the court looks the same as a regular season game in the middle of March.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have begun their quest to become NBA champions, but don’t look for the court to signify anything important.
It is bland and boring, leaving the fans upset.
Fans are longing for the days of the Finals court having the Larry O’Brien Trophy painted on it, or at least something that makes it feel like the Finals.
No Larry O, no Finals script, no nothing.
The court for Thursday night’s game was as ordinary as they come.
“For the life of me I cannot understand why the in season tournament has a brand new court with a trophy in the middle but the NBA FINALS court now is regular as hell and straight aura-less,” one fan commented on X.
“Court is lacking finals logos/aura completely,” another added.
“This is now bothering me so much. Dress up the court one time for us, OKC. This isn’t mid February,” one more chimed in.
“Still can’t believe the NBA got rid of the trophy at center court,” another said.
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The court is bland and boringCredit: X/@CLUTCHPOINTS
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The Larry O’Brien Trophy was always prominent on the court during the FinalsCredit: Getty
“No extra details, it’s so boring,” another attacked the court.
And there are thousands of more posts like this.
Fans are upset that the NBA has prioritized making the NBA Cup games feel much bigger and important with different court designs.
They aren’t asking for much.
Adam Silver was in the house for Game 1, so maybe he heard the complaints.
Bring back the pageantry, the swagger and make the court feel like the Finals.
Oklahoma City Thunder reporter Nick Gallo raves about Jalen Williams’ defensive abilities
NBA’s Greatest
The Pacers stole Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals with a stunning late-game comeback that has become their trademark this offseason.
They erased a double-digit deficit and the ‘clutch king’ himself Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winner with 0.3 seconds left to clinch a 111-110 victory.
The Pacers star is the only NBA player in the play-by-play era to record 3 game-winning shots with 5 or fewer seconds left in the game in a single playoff run.
His Game 1 game-winner is the latest winner in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan‘s buzzer-beater for the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.
“I don’t know what you say about it, but I know that this group is a resilient group,” Haliburton said. “And we don’t give up until it’s 0.0 on the clock.”
The Pacers now have a 1-0 series lead — the first time in franchise history they have ever led in an NBA Finals.
Game 2 will take place in Oklahoma City on Sunday night.