Adam Silver Addresses Fan Backlash Over 2025 NBA Finals Production: From Slippery Decals to Small Market Impact
The 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have been a hot topic in the sports world, with fans and experts alike expressing their opinions on the series' production and execution. The first two games of the series have been particularly controversial, with many fans criticizing the lack of effort to make the Finals feel different from the regular season.
One of the main points of contention was the absence of the special Finals on-court logos featuring the Larry O'Brien trophy. Fans took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, and after Game 1, the league decided to flash virtual NBA Finals and Larry O'Brien icons on the court at Paycom Center for Game 2. However, viewers were still not satisfied with the quality of the graphics during the ESPN broadcast.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed these concerns during an appearance on the ESPN panel before Game 3 in Indiana. He explained that the on-court decals had been discontinued a decade ago due to claims that they were slippery. Silver added that the league was now adding them virtually, so they were back on the court.
Despite the low ratings through the first two games of the series, Silver insisted that the Finals were impacting the small markets of Oklahoma City and Indianapolis. The Thunder and Pacers had defeated teams with huge stars from bigger markets by knocking off the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves on their way to the Finals.
Silver also noted that it was an interesting time in society, with two markets that were completely captured by the Finals. He added that as a media matter, people compared the current series to 20 years ago, but Games 1 and 2 so far were the highest-rated programs in May and June on television.
The Pacers took the series lead with a 116-107 win in Game 3, and will look to secure a 3-1 lead in Game 4 on Friday night before the series heads back to Oklahoma City. The NBA Finals have certainly been a topic of discussion, with both fans and experts alike weighing in on their thoughts and opinions on the series' production and execution.
As the series continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how both teams fare in their respective home arenas and how fans and experts continue to react to the production and execution of this year's NBA Finals.
