When the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers got underway, there were widespread complaints about the game’s presentation, the biggest being around the lack of Finals insignia and signage on the court.
Fans noticed that the ABC broadcast featured superimposed YouTube TV advertisements on the court, while the actual playing surface in Oklahoma City features the Paycom Center logo, two more sideline YouTube TV logos, and a baseline wordmark to identify the Michelob Ultra Courtside area. Missing, however, was anything to signify that it was the NBA Finals.
In response, fans took to social media to long for the days when the NBA Finals featured a large Larry O’Brien trophy at midcourt, while others acknowledged that an NBA Finals script decal inside the 3-point arc would be enough.
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The network listened — well, kind of. The Game 2 broadcast attempted to address fans’ concerns, but the result was even more backlash. Here’s how the basketball world has reacted to the change.
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Basketball fans roast ESPN for digital NBA Finals logos on court
In response to the initial complaints, the ABC broadcast digitally placed Larry O’Brien trophies opposite the Paycom Center logos on each side of the court.
Fans were not amused.
got bullied into putting digital larry o’briens out there. pic.twitter.com/4M0mqKDwa0
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 9, 2025
Among complaints are that the trophies are small and of low resolution. Fans were also quick to point out that at some points, a switch in angle or pace resulted in the distortion of the trophies.
laughing incredibly hard at the internet yelling about not having the trophy on the court for the finals so espn has a crappy looking larry o’brien cgi overlay that looks even worse
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) June 9, 2025
It might just be digitally projected, but it’s progress. (Shoutout to @CJToledano) pic.twitter.com/JEjoTRptuA
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 9, 2025
140p quality finals trophy on the court#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/niIBc5SQGg
— HiMyNameIsJC 🫡 (@HiMyNameIsJC_) June 9, 2025
Here’s how the trophies look in motion, as well as how fans were first introduced to the trophies, which were revealed in the final seconds before tip-off.
WHAT ARE THOSE ON THE “COURT”!?
IT LOOKS TERRIBLE!!
PUT THE FINALS TROPHIES ON THE ACTUAL COURT NOT JUST ON TV
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE MEANT!! 🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/9NdVCRTuQZ
— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) June 9, 2025
Digital Larry O’Brien Trophies have been placed on the court to appease people (like me) who complained about no Finals logos or signage on the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. You can see them magically appear just before tip-off. pic.twitter.com/Jp6Oc5mU99
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 9, 2025
Given the backlash to the trophies, there was a real-time response from the network. As the second quarter opened, the Larry O’Brien trophies were replaced with the NBA Finals script logo, which also features text that reads “Presented by YouTube TV.”
The trophies have been replaced! https://t.co/yLoKr2agnZ pic.twitter.com/tNPuOm5PBE
— Mr. Statistician Face Man (@tomhaberstroh) June 9, 2025
When the second half got underway, the broadcast switched back to the Larry O’Brien trophy, another significant change from the second-quarter script logo.
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