The confetti had barely settled on the Madison Square Garden floor when a familiar debate reignited: why does the NBA let team owners hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy before the players who actually earned it?
After the New York Knicks clinched the NBA Finals in five games over the San Antonio Spurs, commissioner Adam Silver handed the hardware straight to owner James Dolan. Jalen Brunson, the Finals MVP, and his teammates had to wait their turn. That didn't sit well with fans watching at home or in the arena.
In the NHL, the Stanley Cup goes first to the captain or a star player, often creating a spine-tingling moment. In the NBA, MLB, and NFL, it's usually the owner who gets the first touch. But after Saturday night's ceremony, the chorus for change has never been louder.
“Not to be NHL biased, but it’s so lame how the owner lifts the trophy and talks first. Get James Dolan off my screen brah let Brunson and KAT talk,” one fan wrote on social media.
Another added, “Nothing beats the Stanley Cup and the presentation of the trophy. NFL, NBA and MLB don’t compare in that aspect.”
The sentiment was echoed widely: “NBA needs to change it,” one fan insisted, while another offered a simple solution: “If I was a sports owner I would just sit in my owners box and let the players have their moment with who they want out their with them.”
Even those who loved the Knicks' fairy-tale run couldn't ignore the awkward optics. “Agree about the owner part, but this series reminded me why NBA is so much more popular than NHL. That was a fairytale. It would be even better if Dolan was never seen again,” one fan wrote.
This isn't the first time the league's trophy presentation has sparked controversy. Earlier in the finals, ESPN's Mike Greenberg slammed 'disgraceful' Knicks fans after ugly incidents marred the celebration. And the off-court drama didn't stop there—Selena Gomez set the record straight after a Taylor Swift jab, while a hot mic caught Knicks analyst Monica McNutt ripping Swift's fandom.
But the trophy ceremony issue strikes at the heart of what fans value: the players. In hockey, the handoff from commissioner to captain is iconic. In basketball, the image of an owner—often a billionaire—taking the first hold feels out of step with the sport's modern, player-driven identity.
Should the NBA follow the NHL's lead? The league hasn't commented on any potential changes, but the pressure is building. As one fan summed it up: “It needs to change.”
