Amanda Knapp
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is awarded annually by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the winner of the NBA Finals. The trophy, depicting a basketball over a hoop, is two feet tall and is made of 15.5 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil with a 24-karat gold overlay. The Larry O'Brien Trophy was introduced in 1977 and was named after former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
| Awarded by | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| Awarded to | Winner of the NBA Finals |
| Year | Annually |
| Named after | Former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien |
| Height | 2 feet |
| Weight | 15.5 pounds |
| Composition | Sterling silver and vermeil with a 24-karat gold overlay |
| Designer | Artist Victor Solomon |
| Manufacturer | Tiffany & Co. |
| Introduced | 1977 |
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What You'll Learn
The Larry O'Brien Trophy
The trophy was first awarded in 1977 and was then known as the Walter A. Brown Trophy, named after the original commissioner of the NBA. The name of the trophy was changed in 1984 to honour former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984. O'Brien was also the United States postmaster general under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1965 to 1968.
Unlike its predecessor, the new trophy was given permanently to the winning team, and a new one was made every year. The inaugural winners of the Larry O'Brien Trophy were the Portland Trail Blazers, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. The Los Angeles Lakers have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy more than any other franchise since the '77 season, with 11 titles.
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The Walter A. Brown Trophy predecessor
The Walter A. Brown Trophy was the predecessor to the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the NBA Finals. The Walter A. Brown Trophy was first introduced in 1946 and was awarded until 1976. The trophy was named after Walter Augustine Brown (1905-1964), an American sports executive, who founded and owned the Boston Celtics, operated the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation, and served as president of the Boston Athletic Association.
The original trophy was awarded to the NBA champions from 1947 until 1976. The design of the trophy depicted a basketball over a hoop and basket. The trophy was only lent to the winning teams until new champions were crowned the following year, similar to the tradition of the Stanley Cup. The Philadelphia Warriors were the inaugural winners of the trophy, defeating the Chicago Stags. The Boston Celtics were the final winners of the Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1976, defeating the Phoenix Suns.
In 1977, a new trophy design was introduced, though it retained the name of its predecessor until 1984. The new trophy, now known as the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, was created to honour the then-recently retired NBA commissioner, Larry O'Brien. Unlike its predecessor, the new trophy was given permanently to the winning team, and a new one is made each year. The Portland Trail Blazers were the first winners of the newly designed trophy, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Larry O'Brien Trophy has undergone slight modifications over the years, including a redesign in 2023 for the NBA's 75th anniversary season. The trophy now features two discs instead of the previous square base, with the top disc displaying the league's first 75 championship teams from 1947 to 2021, and the bottom disc to be inscribed with the next 25 championship teams from 2022 to 2046.
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NBA Finals winners
The championship trophy awarded annually by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the winner of the NBA Finals is called the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The trophy, depicting a basketball over a hoop and basket, was first awarded in 1977. It was originally named the Walter A. Brown Trophy, after the trophy of the same name that preceded it. The trophy was renamed in 1984 to honour former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984.
The Larry O'Brien Trophy is two feet tall and made of 15.5 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil with a 24-karat gold overlay. The basketball depicted on top is the same size as a real basketball. The trophy was designed by artist Victor Solomon for the NBA's 75th anniversary season and is manufactured by Tiffany & Co. The championship team maintains permanent possession of the trophy, and the year and winning team names are engraved on the trophies.
The NBA Finals is the championship series for the NBA and is held at the conclusion of its postseason. All NBA Finals have been played in a best-of-seven format and are contested between the winners of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference (formerly Divisions before 1970). The only exception was in 1950 when the Eastern Division champion faced the winner of the Western and Central Division champions.
The 1949-1950 Minneapolis Lakers, who won the NBA Finals, are not counted in the Eastern versus Western champions record as they played in the Central Division. As of 2024, the Eastern champions have won 41 NBA titles, while the Western champions have won 36. The Boston Celtics have won the most titles (18) of any team in the league.
The 2025 NBA Finals are between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, with the Thunder being the favourites to win.
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The Kobe Bryant MVP trophy
The trophy itself is designed to be a symbol of excellence and a representation of the hard work and dedication required to excel in the sport. It is crafted using high-quality materials, reflecting the prestige and honor associated with receiving this award. The design of the trophy may vary from year to year, but it always incorporates symbolic elements that pay tribute to the game of basketball and the values it embodies.
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The NBA Social Justice Champion award
The NBA champions are awarded the Larry O’Brien Trophy, named after former league commissioner Larry O’Brien. The trophy, depicting a basketball over a hoop and basket, was first awarded in 1977. It is two feet tall and is made of 15.5 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil with a 24-karat gold overlay. The basketball depicted on top is the same size as a real basketball.
The NBA also recognizes players for their work in social justice with the NBA Social Justice Champion Award. The winner of this award receives the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy, named after the NBA's all-time leading scorer and six-time NBA champion. The trophy honors Abdul-Jabbar's legacy of social activism and is awarded to a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the NBA's values of equality, respect, and inclusion. Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns was named the 2023-24 NBA Social Justice Champion for his work in advocacy around "Restore the Vote," raising awareness for critical issues within the justice and education system, and providing funding for films that explore social justice issues.
The winner of the NBA Social Justice Champion Award is determined by a selection committee that includes NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself, as well as other notable social justice leaders. The committee reviews the social justice efforts and impact of the finalists and selects a winner based on their dedication to driving change, inspiring others to reflect on injustice, and taking collective action in their communities. This award not only recognizes the winner's achievements in their respective communities but also embodies the NBA's commitment to using its platform to address social justice issues and promote positive change.
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Frequently asked questions
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, named after former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien.
The trophy is two feet tall and made of 15.5 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil with a 24-karat gold overlay. The basketball depicted on top is the same size as a real basketball.
The Larry O'Brien Trophy was introduced in 1977, replacing the Walter A. Brown Trophy, which was awarded from 1947 to 1976.
