An uproar around the absence of the NBA Finals logo on the court has garnered some attention, and fortunately, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently shared why it was removed in the first place. While speaking with “NBA Countdown”, he was asked about the omission of the iconic logo. He responded by saying:
“I’ve seen some chatter on social media about the on-court decals. People don’t realize that they went away a decade ago because there were claims that they were slippery when we had the decals on the floor. So we’re back to adding them virtually.”
Silver’s comments are in response to the numerous social media posts about the absence of any embellishment on the court, marking the grand occasion that is the NBA Finals.
Historically, the event has always featured an icon or logo to represent the event, as a demarcation for why it was different from any regular NBA game. The presence of the logo became a part of the collective memory of several fans, and the displeasure with its removal has also been expressed quite explicitly.
However, Silver’s justification for the same cannot be overlooked. Player health is a major responsibility undertaken by the NBA, and the Finals are the last place that teams want to put their players at risk of injury.
Regardless, there has certainly been a particular “magic” around the Finals. From minor jersey alterations to feature special embroidery marking the occasion to hostile environments filled with hopeful fans, the event is certainly the most important one in the NBA’s calendar.
The NBA’s recent attempts at bringing the Finals logo back were seen by placing it along the sidelines virtually. Needless to say, this wasn’t met with a very positive response as fans teed off on social media.
The NBA added digital trophies to the court then switched them out for the Finals logo 💀
What an embarrassment, the league used to have aura 😠pic.twitter.com/zQu2aqflbf
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 9, 2025
This effort is one of many made to appease fans and increase the ratings this season.
The Finals matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers features two young teams on the verge of making history for their respective franchises by winning the title for the first time.
While the story is compelling and features the best team in the West going up against one of the most exciting teams in the East, the NBA has seen a drastic reduction in TV ratings.
While the ratings haven’t necessarily been great, the quality of basketball has been nothing short of spectacular. Headlined by a battle between star guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton, the Thunder vs. Pacers Finals matchup has had fans on the edge of their seats in almost every game.
With Indiana taking a 2-1 lead for the series, the balance has shifted in their favor as well. As the best in the West look to claw their way back into the flow of things, Game 4 emerges as a crucial outing, potentially deciding the fate of the series as well.
