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Why does the NBA trophy bear Larry O'Brien's Name? Exploring a legacy beyond the game
Why does the NBA trophy bear Larry O'Brien's Name? Exploring a legacy beyond the game (Image Source: Getty Images)
The stage is set. The 2024 NBA Finals are coming to an end. One team will rise. One team will fall. And soon, a new champion will hold up the shining Larry O'Brien Trophy. But here's the twist: Larry O'Brien never played basketball.
So why is the most important prize in basketball named after him? The answer is not what you think. It's a story of politics, power, and a man who changed the NBA forever without dribbling a ball.
Larry O'Brien never played basketball but changed the league
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1917, Larry O'Brien's Basketball career first developed from that point. Still, O'Brien never played the game. He was not involved in sports; rather, he worked in politics.
In 1965, President Lindon b.
Johnson nominated him to be Post Master General. He participated in the 1960 election. Kennedy also had a major part in the victory. Working with other leaders, including Robert Kennedy and George McGovern, in the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1975, Larry O'Brien became the third NBA commissioner. The league was in difficulty. Fans were not coming to games. TV views were poor. Larry O'Brien volunteered to assist the NBA with its need for a leader.
He took a bold step in 1976. He facilitated the NBA's merger with a rival league, the ABA. That brought more teams and outstanding players. From 18 to 23 teams, the NBA developed.
The league produced a fresh trophy in 1977. They called it the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Bill Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to victory that year. Six contests saw their triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers. Portland was the first team to raise the new trophy.
Larry O'Brien went beyond in 1979, he introduced the three-point shot. It altered the rules of the game. He also made a TV deal with CBS. More fans could watch from home. Game attendance also went up. People began to show increasing concern for basketball once again.
The prize was known as the Walter A. Brown Trophy before 1977. Teams had to return it yearly. Larry O'Brien's award was distinctive. Champions get to keep it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are playing for the same trophy
Now, players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are competing for the same trophy. In June 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers will meet in the NBA Finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His season has been excellent. Once again, the Indiana Pacers put together a solid squad. Many claim they were not expected to come this far.
From the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic had a secret. "LeBron James trains more than anyone," he declared in a May 2025 interview in Dallas. Luka yearns to win as he does.
Larry O'Brien's work got the trophy started. Now, today's stars are still fighting for it.
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