The Decal Debate Continues

On Wednesday’s “NBA Countdown” on ABC, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the backlash regarding the digital display of the Larry O’Brien Trophy that appeared on the court during Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

In a surprising revelation, Silver noted that these digital decals have actually been around for a decade. “People don’t notice them. I left ten years ago,” he mentioned, suggesting that this has been a long-standing feature, albeit one that often goes overlooked.

There’s been some chatter about the overall vibe during the Finals, with some fans advocating for a return of the trophy decals on the court to add a special touch to the experience. However, Silver has indicated that this revival is unlikely in the near future, mainly due to past complaints from players regarding the decals being slippery.

“There was a claim that they were slippery,” Silver added. “So we’re back to effectively adding them.” While the concept of virtual decals makes sense in theory, the reality seems to have missed the mark, especially judging by the opinions circulating on social media.

During Game 2, there were complaints that the decals appeared glitchy and of low quality. “The @NBA seems to have received feedback from fans wanting more visuals for #NBAFinals insignia and Larry O’Brien, but overlapping digital images isn’t the right solution,” one commentator observed.

Interestingly, amid widespread criticism of the NBA’s efforts, some fans have proposed alternative ideas should the current decals remain off the court. For instance, customizing the court, like the league did during the NBA Cup, has been suggested as a viable option. This season, the NBA used 30 unique court designs, and many think that adapting those for the Finals could enhance the presentation, particularly if the digital decals are causing issues.

As Game 4 approaches on Friday, it remains to be seen whether the digital trophy will make another appearance.