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[Saba Sports News] Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers tipped off Thursday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. But for many fans, something felt off.
Across social media, fans expressed disappointment over what they saw as a lack of the usual pageantry and spectacle associated with the NBA Finals.
Complaints included the absence of the iconic NBA Finals logo patch on players’ jerseys, no Finals branding or Larry O’Brien Trophy imagery on the court, and the omission of the national anthem and pregame introductions from the TV broadcast.
Many fans pointed out the contrast with the NBA’s in-season tournament, which featured elaborate court designs and heavy promotion, suggesting the league poured more effort into hyping that event than its own championship series.
Some speculated the changes were driven by commercial interests — with sponsor logos on jerseys and courts, and ad time taking precedence over traditions.
The general sentiment was that the league has sacrificed some of the Finals’ unique atmosphere in favor of revenue, and fans are calling for a better balance moving forward.