When fans are watching the NBA Finals, they want it to feel special.
While the competition between the Nuggets and the Heat is phenomenal, some basketball fans are left unfulfilled by some elements of the production value. Whether it is the court itself or the broadcast on ABC, there are just a few elements that we used to have that we no longer see.
Beginning in 1992, the arena floors featured the cursive NBA Finals logo and/or the Larry O’Brien Trophy to illustrate the significance of the event. This was a simple aesthetic decision, but it creates iconic images during the games like the ones you can see below:
I miss the days where the NBA Finals decal was actually on the court surface. Now it’s nothing but CGI and TV graphics. 😩 pic.twitter.com/XCtE54XW7H
— вяуαηт (@bryant_gotgame) June 2, 2023
The NCAA stopped using decals on the court in 2012, citing safety issues after some players slipped on the inconsistent parts of the floor.
As we wrote a few years ago, the NBA made the same decision in 2014. An NBA spokesman explained why (via The Cauldron):
“We decided to remove the playoffs logo from the court for a variety of reasons, including cleaning up the playing surface … Throughout the postseason, the logo will appear on pole pads and seat backs, and on digital LED stanchions and courtside signage. With this added exposure for playoffs branding, we determined the logos on the court were unnecessary.”
Several notable college coaches complained about the intrusive stickers, so while disappointing for some fans who miss seeing the trophy, this decision was understandable.
Although the league moved away from the boring NBA Finals logo they introduced in 2020 back to the throwback script font, it just doesn’t feel as special when it’s superimposed on your screen YouTubeTV as the presenting sponsor.
But it isn’t just the on-court decals that are missing from the product. Some fans feel that the broadcast on ABC/ESPN is also missing the fun pomp and circumstance.
Not that long ago, the team logos used to turn gold on the broadcast scoring bug during the NBA Finals. Now, we are getting the same theme music and scoreboard from the regular season.
It isn’t just basketball fans who are expecting to see more, though. Players, like Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, have voiced their frustration as well.