05/31/26 09:12:00
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05/31 21:10 CDT The trophy returns: NBA releases images of how Finals courts
will look in San Antonio, New York
The trophy returns: NBA releases images of how Finals courts will look in San
Antonio, New York
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
SAN ANTONIO (AP) --- It's official: The NBA Finals logos are back at the NBA
Finals.
With no fanfare other than a social media post, the NBA announced Sunday that
the image of the Larry O'Brien Trophy --- the one given to the winner of the
finals --- will be painted at midcourt for games at both the Frost Bank Center
in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York for this season's title
series.
Also back: the script logo for "The Finals" --- to be on either side of the
court. The series between the Spurs and Knicks starts Wednesday in San Antonio.
It's the first time since the 2009 finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and
Orlando Magic that the title series will feature the trophy logo at midcourt.
The finals wordmark and logo last appeared on the court during the 2014 finals
between the Spurs and the Miami Heat.
The league started using the finals wordmark on the court for the title round
in 1989, went to a combined wordmark and trophy in 2004, then had the prominent
trophy logo at midcourt from 2005 through 2009.
Fans had turned to social media in recent years to complain that the court
lacked the finals flair. The league commissions alternate courts for events
like NBA Cup games, and some fans wondered aloud about the lack of consistency
--- special courts for the in-season tournament, but no special markings for
the finals.
This year's version comes with a new twist: the center court trophy logo will
be integrated with the participating team's own branding.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
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