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Every year, the Larry O’Brien trophy is awarded to any team that wins the NBA finals. Traditionally, stickers that resemble the coveted trophy have painted in court during the League championship series. “The finals” would also be painted in court.
But the ongoing confrontation between the champion of the West Conference Oklahoma City Thunder and the winners of the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers, presented virtual stickers. Some spectators suggested that the decals “disappeared” sometimes.
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June 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, talks to the media before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals of 2025 at the Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams-Imagn images)
“I have seen some of the talks on social networks about stickers on the court,” Silver said in Indianapolis during a televised interview with ESPN before game 3. “People do not realize, they left a decade, because there were claims, Kendrick, Kendrick [Perkins] He knows … they were slippery when we had them on the court. We add them virtually. “
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According to sports of the main office, ensuring an adequate amount of waiting time to paint “the finals” in its distinctive source or the Larry O’Brien trophy in hard wood has become a difficult task for the league over the years. The paint requires a specific amount of time to dry completely to avoid any problem for players.
Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) Shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers striker, Isaiah Jackson (22) during the second half during the game two of the NBA finals of 2025 at the Paycom Center. (Kyle Terada-Imagn images)
Silver also addressed the audience much discussed for the finals.
The first two games of the Thunder-Pacers series attracted an average of 8.84 million viewers respectively, according to sports of the main office. The figure represents a 24% drop of the last three finals. It is also the lowest informed audience since 2007, excluding the NBA finals of 2020, which took place in Florida in the NBA bubble.
The Guard of Indiana Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in the game one of the NBA finals of 2025 at the Paycom center. (Kyle Terada-Imagn images)
La Plata pointed out the differences in the media landscape compared to previous decades.
“As a matter of the media, it is interesting. People compare us with 20 years ago, but games 1 and 2 are the best qualified programs in May and June so far on television,” said the commissioner. “If something derives us, it will be another sports program. 20 years ago, we often do not win the night when the finals were lit. But the absolute qualification is lower now.”
Silver also highlighted the change in fans visualization habits and the various ways in which the content is distributed in the modern “content market”.
“We have to be innovative and find new forms (podcasts, social networks, direct marketing to consumer, new digital platforms to which we move next year; ESPN and ABC are doing the same) is a changed society,” said Silver.
The Pacers lead the 2-1 series. The tip for game 4 is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 PM EDT from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
