For years, the NBA finals had a special look that made the games feel bigger. One of the standout features was the large Larry O’Brien Trophy decal placed at halfcourt. These designs helped show fans just how important the moment was. But starting in 2015, these eye-catching court decals disappeared, leaving fans to wonder why the change happened.
The on-court decals began in 1989 with the finals logo at midcourt. In 2005, the league added the huge trophy decal at center court, which was used through 2009. After that, the NBA returned to using smaller Finals logos from 2010 to 2014 before removing decals altogether.
Since 2015, most NBA finals courts have looked just like regular-season ones. There have been a few exceptions, like the 2020 bubble finals and the Cavaliers’ court in 2017, but the unique finals look has vanished mostly. For many fans, that memorable finals feeling is not the same without the bold court designs.
The Real Reason Explained
The NBA did not remove the court decals to change the look; it was mainly about player safety. In 2024, an NBA spokesperson told The Cauldron, “There were a lot of considerations taken into account in making this decision, including player safety. We decided to remove the playoffs logo from the court for a variety of reasons, including cleaning up the playing surface.”(Via- Yahoo Sports)
This change followed a similar move by the NCAA in 2012, which banned decals during tournament games. Slippery decals and uneven footing became real concerns. With so much at stake in the playoffs, the NBA chose safety over flashy court designs.
To maintain some visual excitement, TV broadcasts now add virtual graphics for fans watching at home. The NBA also tested bold court looks elsewhere, like in the 2023 in-season tournament, which had colorful courts and a big NBA cup logo at midcourt. Still, with no trophy logo on the floor for the 2024 finals, some fans miss the old finals flair. But for the league, safety comes first.
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