The NBA Finals conclude each season and determine which team will go down in history as the true champion. Only one team receives the highest honor, the Larry O’Brien Cup, a trophy that embodies the culmination of months of struggle, tactical discipline, team synergy, and outstanding individual effort. The award symbolizes not only victory in the Finals, but also systematic dominance in the most competitive basketball league in the world.
History of the Trophy: Changing Status
The official history of the Larry O’Brien Trophy began in 1984, when the NBA named the trophy after Lawrence O’Brien, a former league commissioner who played a key role in the league’s development and its merger with the ABA. Until then, the trophy was named after Walter A. Brown, one of the original owners of the Boston Celtics and initiator of the first championship final format.
Who is Larry O’Brien – not just a bureaucrat? This man led the league from 1975 to 1984 and laid the economic foundation for the modern NBA, introducing the draft system, driving commercialization, and securing extensive television broadcasting contracts. Under him, the league achieved financial stability, and the number of clubs grew.
Appearance and Technical Features
The Larry O’Brien Cup is 60 cm tall, weighs approximately 6.5 kg, and is made of sterling silver with 24-karat gold plating. The top of the trophy is designed as a stylized basketball heading toward a hoop with a shield. The shape emphasizes the dynamics of the game and visually captures the moment of triumph.
It is handcrafted by artisans at a US-based jewelry company. Each piece is individually created for the season’s winner and remains with the club forever. Production requires approximately 70 hours of labor. This is not a rolling trophy—each new champion receives a new, original NBA championship trophy.
Awarding Rules: How to Win the Larry O’Brien Cup
The winner is the team that wins the NBA Finals series in the best of four games. The series is contested between the champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences. The Finals consists of a maximum of seven games, and each game has direct significance. Home-court advantage is awarded to the team with the better regular-season record.
The NBA trophy is not awarded to the player, but to the team. However, individual achievements are often recognized with the Finals MVP award, which has been given to legends such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Kawhi Leonard. The players lift the basketball trophy immediately after the final whistle of the decisive game.
Great Teams and Players: Who Has Won the Cup?
The Larry O’Brien Trophy has been hoisted by dozens of great champions. Among the most notable names are:
- Michael Jordan – 6 titles (1991–1993, 1996–1998), Finals MVP each time. The leader of the Chicago Bulls who ushered in an era.
- Magic Johnson – 5 titles with the Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), three-time Finals MVP.
- Kobe Bryant – 5 titles (2000–2002, 2009, 2010), 2-time Finals MVP.
- Tim Duncan – 5 wins with the San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), 3-time Finals MVP.
- LeBron James – 4 titles: 2 with the Miami Heat (2012, 2013), 1 with Cleveland (2016), 1 with the Lakers (2020).
- Stephen Curry – 4 titles with Golden State (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022), Finals MVP in 2022.
- Shaquille O’Neal – 3 titles with the Lakers (2000-2002), Finals MVP every year.
- Kevin Durant – 2 titles with the Warriors (2017, 2018), Finals MVP both times.
- Dirk Nowitzki – only title (2011), a symbol of loyalty to Dallas.
- Kawhi Leonard – two titles, with the Spurs (2014) and Raptors (2019), MVP both times.
Trophy Symbolism and Influence on Player Status
Winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy influences the perception of a career. A player with one title turns success into status. A player with multiple titles is inducted into the pantheon. Victory in the Finals not only marks the end of the season, but also the starting point for evaluating all statistics, making comparisons, and building future legacies.
Players without titles, despite their success, are always faced with the question: “But where is the trophy?” This happened to Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, and Karl Malone. In contrast, champions like Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, and Jason Kidd achieved historic recognition by winning an NBA trophy.
Finals Series: A Sports Phenomenon
The NBA Finals are more than just a sports show. The series transforms basketball into a drama where every episode matters and the outcome depends not on theory but on strength of character. Each decade offers unique twists, unexpected feats, and historic endings. The Larry O’Brien Cup becomes more than just a goal—it becomes a litmus test to determine who the true champions are.
2016 – Cleveland recovers from 1-3
The Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors ended the 2015-16 season with an intensity like never before. The Warriors entered the series with a 73-9 regular-season record and a 3-1 series lead, but LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took over. In Game 7, LeBron pulled off one of the greatest moments in history: a fast-break block on Andre Iguodala. Cleveland won 93-89 in Oakland. The Finals marked the club’s first title and proof that even historical statistics can be rewritten.
2010 – Kobe’s Game 7 and rematch against the Celtics
The Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics rekindled the legendary rivalry between the NBA’s two most successful teams. Los Angeles recovered over the course of the series, and Game 7 at the Staples Center became a battle for every rebound. Kobe Bryant, despite his modest shooting percentage, collected 15 rebounds and 23 points, and the game-winning shot was made by Ron Artest (Metta World Peace). The 83-79 victory brought Kobe his fifth title and the status of the all-time leader without Shaquille at his side.
2014 – The Perfect Spurs System
The San Antonio Spurs’ revenge for their loss to the Heat the previous year culminated in one of the most systematic Finals in history. Gregg Popovich’s team beat Miami in five games, demonstrating exemplary passing, off-ball movement, and collective responsibility. Kawhi Leonard became Finals MVP despite modest individual statistics but maximum efficiency on both ends of the court. Team basketball has surpassed the superstar model.
2000s – The Lakers and Spurs Era
The first two decades of the 21st century were dominated by two teams: the Lakers with Shaquille and Kobe (2000, 2001, 2002) and then with Kobe and Gasol (2009, 2010), and the Spurs with Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). Every victory during these years was accompanied by a clear structure and a long-term philosophy, with the team built not for a season, but for a generation. Series like this set the standard for winning an NBA trophy not through brilliant performances, but through systematic work.
2022 – Golden State Rebuild and Curry Recognition
After two years of injuries and rebuilding, the Warriors returned to the Finals and defeated the Boston Celtics in six games. Stephen Curry took the lead, averaging 31.2 points per game, including 43 points in Game 4 in Boston. His performance ultimately earned him the title of Finals MVP and Golden State its fourth championship since 2015. The Finals became a recognition and a symbol of the end of an entire era of dominance.
The Concept of Depth and Balance: The Larry O’Brien Cup
The NBA Finals format requires not just stars, but a systematic rotation. The winner demonstrates the ability to remain efficient while swapping out top players, exploiting the opponent’s weaknesses, and, most importantly, maintaining rhythm in a seven-game duel. The Larry O’Brien Cup was the sum of the entire structure, from the front office to the last player on the bench. Of particular importance in the series are:
- Transitions between plays – the ability to adapt;
- Team defense – especially in the third quarter;
- Maintaining the tempo – not allowing the opponent to dictate the game;
- Psychological stability – defending an advantage or coming back from -10.
The pinnacle of team basketball
No other sports award evokes such a concentration of emotion and attention to detail as the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Winning the NBA Finals isn’t just about a trophy, but also a test of maturity, leadership, strategy, and competitive spirit. This award isn’t for flashes of inspiration – it requires long-term sustainability. That’s why every season represents a new attempt, and every championship moment remains in history as the culmination not just of a season, but of an entire era.