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The NBA Finals tip off in two days and will feature the league fixing an issue that has driven fans crazy over the last decade. For most of the NBA Finals in history, the court has featured special designs and logos.
That stopped in 2015, when the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Golden State Warriors in the finals for the first of their three finals matchups at the height of the LeBron James-Stephen Curry era.
MORE: NBA Finals jerseys to feature USA 250 patch that will be used for special reason
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to media after the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
For the longest time, fans wondered why the logos went away and why the NBA hadn’t been adding any flair to the courts during the most important time of year.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver eventually answered this question, saying they used decals on the court instead of painting the designs, and that those decals were slippery and unsafe for the players.
So after years of either doing nothing to the court or putting the awful and obvious digital projection of the finals logo on the court, the league gets it right, and they’re throwing it back to the 2000s for the court design.
MORE: 5 bold predictions for 2026 NBA Finals
Oct 30, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of the Denver Nuggets 2023 Larry O’Brien championship trophy before the game against the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The new court is an homage to the 2000s, with the Larry O’Brien Trophy prominently placed in the middle of the court, under the home team’s center-court logo. The next detail is the classic NBA Finals print in a sort of elegant cursive font, which is featured on opposite corners of the court.
This detail is a little different from years past, as the finals script was usually placed closer to mid-court, by the sideline and wings. This slight change isn’t too big of a deal, as long as it’s on the court, it’s the right call.
The courts feature these logos and designs painted on them, rather than sticking something on them or doing it digitally. As far as player safety goes, painting these on the court is the right move and should be what’s done now and forever on.
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That stopped in 2015, when the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Golden State Warriors in the finals for the first of their three finals matchups at the height of the LeBron James-Stephen Curry era.
MORE: NBA Finals jerseys to feature USA 250 patch that will be used for special reason
Why the NBA Finals logos went away in the first place
You must be registered for see images
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to media after the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
For the longest time, fans wondered why the logos went away and why the NBA hadn’t been adding any flair to the courts during the most important time of year.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver eventually answered this question, saying they used decals on the court instead of painting the designs, and that those decals were slippery and unsafe for the players.
So after years of either doing nothing to the court or putting the awful and obvious digital projection of the finals logo on the court, the league gets it right, and they’re throwing it back to the 2000s for the court design.
MORE: 5 bold predictions for 2026 NBA Finals
Breaking down the new NBA Finals court
You must be registered for see images attach
Oct 30, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of the Denver Nuggets 2023 Larry O’Brien championship trophy before the game against the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The new court is an homage to the 2000s, with the Larry O’Brien Trophy prominently placed in the middle of the court, under the home team’s center-court logo. The next detail is the classic NBA Finals print in a sort of elegant cursive font, which is featured on opposite corners of the court.
This detail is a little different from years past, as the finals script was usually placed closer to mid-court, by the sideline and wings. This slight change isn’t too big of a deal, as long as it’s on the court, it’s the right call.
The courts feature these logos and designs painted on them, rather than sticking something on them or doing it digitally. As far as player safety goes, painting these on the court is the right move and should be what’s done now and forever on.
Continue reading...
