The NBA announced the court designs for the NBA Finals on Sunday. The designs will feature the return of a large Larry O’Brien Trophy on the court. The intention to re-add the trophy to the finals court was announced in October, but it was officially unveiled on Sunday.
Both the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York will have the jumbo-sized trophy painted below the teams’ logos at center court.
It’s the first time since 2009 that the NBA has placed the large decal on the court. It was removed over concerns about player safety. Originally, the logo was applied as a sticker on the court and could become slippery. Now, in 2026, the logo will be painted directly onto the hardwood.
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The 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder featured digital court insignia, including “The Finals” script logo on the sides of the court. But the move sparked backlash from fans who pleaded with the league to bring back the authentic imagery.
During last season’s Finals, NBA commissioner Adam Silver commented on revisiting the court designs, which eventually led to the return of the trophy. He recognized the nostalgia associated with the court logos and their connection to the game’s biggest moments.
“Maybe there’s a way around it,” Silver told reporters, as reported by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “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. 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.”
The smaller finals script logo decal became an on-court staple from 1989 to 2004. From the 2005 NBA Finals through 2009, the series featured the giant trophy decal at center court.
Now, for the first time since Kobe Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers past Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, the iconic imagery has returned to the court.
Victor Wembanyama will try to lead the San Antonio Spurs to the pinnacle of the sport against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks.
