Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy first appeared in 1977 when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers. Before that year, the championship trophy carried a different name entirely. It was called the Walter A. Brown Trophy until the league decided to change it in 1984. This renaming honored Larry O'Brien who served as NBA commissioner from 1975 to 1984. He had previously been the United States postmaster general under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1965 to 1968. The Boston Celtics became the first team to win the renamed trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games during the 1984 NBA Finals. The last team to win the original Walter A. Brown Trophy was the 1982, 83 Philadelphia 76ers who swept the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2022 the league began redesigning awards for its 75th anniversary season. Victor Solomon created a new design featuring two discs instead of a square foundation. The top disc displays the league's first 75 championship teams from 1947 to 2021 while the bottom disc will contain the next 25 teams from 2022 to 2046.
Victor Solomon designed the current version of the trophy for the NBA's 75th anniversary season. Tiffany & Co manufactures the piece which stands two feet tall and weighs 15.5 pounds. It is constructed from sterling silver and vermeil with a 24 karat gold overlay. The basketball depicted on top matches the size of a real basketball used in actual games. Solomon chose a round base because he thought the former square base awkward to hold or prop upon in the hand. The two discs function similarly to the metal bands found on the National Hockey League Stanley Cup. The ball and net are slanted to the right to represent the league's continued desire to be progressive. Engravings appear on every trophy showing the year and winning team names. These details often remain prominently displayed inside the winning team's arena after victory.
From the 2004, 05 season through the 2008, 09 season the NBA used a painted replica of the O'Brien trophy at center court during finals games. Players cited slipperiness issues with the trophy and other decals as reasons for its removal after 2009. Game 3 of the 2006 NBA Finals featured the painted version behind the Miami Heat logo. Public backlash grew when the physical trophy was missing from center court during the 2025 NBA Finals. Commissioner Adam Silver announced plans to return the actual O'Brien trophy to center court following that event. The official return is scheduled for the 2026 NBA Finals alongside the Finals script logo. A digital hologram replaced the physical object during the 2025 series before this decision. The league now intends to bring back the tangible symbol to the heart of the championship stage once more.
The trophy toured around Michigan after the Detroit Pistons won the 2004 NBA Finals marking the first state tour. In 2005 the NBA Legends Tour launched in New York City showcasing the piece in various cities hosting playoffs. Former players including Julius Erving Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell escorted the trophy during these events. Fans could take autographs and photos during stops across multiple locations. The league unveiled an NBA Headquarters on Second Life in May 2007 allowing fans to meet the trophy virtually. This virtual environment included a Toyota Larry O'Brien Trophy Room where people took pictures. August 2007 saw the trophy travel to Hong Kong as part of the NBA Madness Asia Tour. Leading up to the 2023 finals the item went on a bucket list visiting sports venues entertainment sites and meeting celebrities. New social media accounts dedicated solely to the trophy supported these global efforts.
Seventeen teams have won the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy since its introduction in 1977. The Los Angeles Lakers hold the record with eleven titles spanning from 1980 through 2020. Chicago Bulls follow with six championships between 1991 and 1998 while Boston Celtics claim five wins from 1981 to 2024. San Antonio Spurs also secured five titles between 1999 and 2014. Golden State Warriors won four times including victories in 2015 2017 2018 and 2022. An exception exists regarding ownership after Leslie Alexander sold the Houston Rockets to Tilman Fertitta in late 2017. Alexander kept the team's 1993, 94 and 1994, 95 trophies as mementos of his tenure. Reserve center Richard Petruška accidentally dropped and dented one version during celebrations. Tiffany created replica versions unveiled publicly on the 20th of September 2018 to replace the damaged originals. Other winners include Detroit Pistons Miami Heat Seattle SuperSonics Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ers Portland Trail Blazers Toronto Raptors and Washington Bullets.
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Common questions
When did the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy first appear?
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy first appeared in 1977 when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers. Before that year, the championship trophy carried a different name entirely and was called the Walter A. Brown Trophy until the league decided to change it in 1984.
Who designed the current version of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy?
Victor Solomon designed the current version of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for the NBA's 75th anniversary season. Tiffany & Co manufactures the piece which stands two feet tall and weighs 15.5 pounds using sterling silver and vermeil with a 24 karat gold overlay.
Which teams have won the most Larry O'Brien Championship Trophies since 1977?
Seventeen teams have won the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy since its introduction in 1977. The Los Angeles Lakers hold the record with eleven titles spanning from 1980 through 2020 while Chicago Bulls follow with six championships between 1991 and 1998.
Why did the NBA stop using painted replicas of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy at center court?
From the 2004, 05 season through the 2008, 09 season the NBA used a painted replica of the trophy at center court during finals games. Players cited slipperiness issues with the trophy and other decals as reasons for its removal after 2009.
What happened to the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during the 2025 NBA Finals?
Public backlash grew when the physical trophy was missing from center court during the 2025 NBA Finals because a digital hologram replaced the physical object during that series. Commissioner Adam Silver announced plans to return the actual O'Brien trophy to center court following that event with an official return scheduled for the 2026 NBA Finals alongside the Finals script logo.