ESPN responds to complaints, still gets roasted for digital NBA Finals on-court logos

Gilbert McGregor

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ESPN responds to complaints, still gets roasted for digital NBA Finals on-court logos image

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. The scene at Indianapolis' Gainbridge Fieldhouse is similar.

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 reacted to the change and what commissioner Adam Silver said about the choice.

    Why the NBA is using digital NBA Finals logos

    Ahead of Game 3, Silver was asked about the digital logos on the court. The commissioner cited player safety as the basis for the choice.

    "I've seen some of the chatter on social media about on-court decals. People don't realize, they went away a decade ago," Silver said. "There were claims, Kendrick knows...they were slippery...we're back to adding them virtually."

    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.

    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.

    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. 

    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."

    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.

    MORE NBA FINALS

    Gilbert McGregor

    Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.