The NBA Finals are well underway, which has led to discourse surrounding the presentation. Commissioner Adam Silver has addressed this issue, including the lack of a trophy logo at center court.
The NBA Finals always felt like the most significant set of games during the season. It is basketball’s biggest stage, so it had a presentation that made it clear the series mattered. Unfortunately, that did not work out for the best, as some people feel the NBA Finals have dipped in quality.
On the court, basketball is amazing, so people are getting their money’s worth when watching. Sadly, the NBA Finals feel like a regular-season game for some people. There was a special aura surrounding the NBA Finals before, which was signified by the big trophy at center court.
Now, Adam Silver has entertained discussions because he saw the fans are adamant that the trophy is significant. It was vital for the NBA Finals’ presentation and branding, which stuck with people. The lack of oomph with the presentation felt off for some people despite the Indiana Pacers‘ miracle comeback.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSilver and the NBA are considering bringing back the trophy at center court
When people look at the Finals series in the 2000s, they would see the trophy logo at center court. Every time people caught the most important series of the season, it was evident because of the logo. The league stepped away from that in the 2010s, which felt weird for some people.
It could have been people’s nostalgia talking in the past, but it is more important now. The Finals lost their luster because it felt like a regular-season game. That should not happen at the pinnacle of an NBA season with the best teams in the league.
This is not a basketball problem. It’s not even a market problem.
This is a marketing problem. The NBA’s media partners have failed them, both on game nights and in between. The promotion is awful, and so is the presentation. They do absolutely nothing to draw people in. https://t.co/PFKRDZjW7X
— Keith Black Trudeau (@Charlottean28) June 6, 2025
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This led to people asking more about the trophy logo returning, which led to Silver addressing it further. Considering NBA Cup games have a logo at half court, that should mean the Finals will not be an issue. It could also help remind people to watch and disprove Jake Paul’s ratings narrative.
“Maybe there’s a way around it. 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 in an NBA Cares charity event at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County via Sam Amick of The Athletic.
“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. 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.”
“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.”
The quality of basketball deserves better presentation
The NBA Finals deserve more eyes on it because it is the highest level of basketball of the year. This season, the Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are having an exciting series. Game 1 was already a blockbuster, and future games look primed to be crowd favorites as well.
Indiana proved in Game 1 they could be OKC’s kryptonite. It would be a shame if fans are missing out on one of the most exciting matchups in recent history. The Thunder are a potential dynasty, so some fans are missing out on a fantastic team.
🏀 Indiana’s Game 1 victory over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals on ABC peaked with 11 million viewers at the end of the 4th quarter when Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winning shot.
🏀 Game 1 averaged nearly 3 times more viewers than the next most-watched program on any other…
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 7, 2025
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When compared to other sports leagues, the NBA is falling short with the presentation of its biggest games. The NBA can keep up with leagues like the NFL and NHL. The staff just needs to work harder, and since Silver is the commissioner, so this will be on him.
With how he addressed the trophy logo potentially returning, it looks like they are taking steps to improve the presentation.