Imagine stepping onto a basketball court that's not just a plain hardwood slab, but a vibrant canvas bursting with team spirit and artistic flair—that's the magic behind the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 courts! But here's where it gets controversial: Are these eye-catching designs enhancing the game or risking distractions that could throw off players and viewers alike? Dive in as we explore the creative genius of artist Victor Solomon, who’s once again revolutionizing how we see NBA action.
The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 kicks off on October 31, and it's bringing back those striking, one-of-a-kind court designs that make every game feel like a unique event. This isn't just about hoops; it's about blending sports with art in a way that's both thrilling and thoughtful.
For the last couple of seasons, these custom courts have been masterminded by Victor Solomon, working hand-in-hand with all 30 NBA teams. Solomon isn't new to the basketball world—he also played a key role in crafting the NBA award trophies (like the ones you can check out at https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-redesigned-trophies-for-end-of-season-awards) and even the NBA Cup trophy itself (detailed here: https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-trophies-in-season-tournament). With a rich background in basketball-themed art, he's the ideal visionary for this project.
In a chat with NBA.com, Solomon opened up about his approach to creating this year's designs and how the league is building a framework to keep refining them year after year. It's a fascinating peek behind the curtain, showing how art meets athletics.
Explore all 30 court designs for the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 right here: https://www.nba.com/news/emirates-nba-cup-2025-courts-unveiled
For full coverage of the event, head to: https://www.nba.com/nba-cup/2025
Note from the editor: This interview has been lightly edited and streamlined for better flow and understanding.
NBA.com: You're tackling this huge project for a second time. Can you walk us through the design journey and what changes you made for these new courts?
Victor Solomon: Following the inaugural tournament in 2023, the NBA tapped me to infuse some extra creative flair into the courts for the second edition. The core concept was brilliant—find a way to set NBA Cup matchups apart from the regular season grind. My main additions revolved around the theme of transition. Each design starts with simple, elemental graphics, but they revolve around taking a team's signature color and smoothly blending it through various stages.
Last season, we used three concentric circles to symbolize the tournament's three rounds. This time, we're expanding on that blending idea with a 5x5 mosaic grid, which honors the five players on the court and the five teams per group. This grid serves as the backbone for each court's visual story.
And this is the part most people miss: Courts are daunting canvases due to their massive size. It's tempting to cram in endless details, but I focused on keeping things graphically simple at the base level. This simplicity paves the way for deeper teamwork with the 30 teams, letting them weave in their own local tales.
How did we achieve that? We started with a basic, elemental foundation for every team. Collaborating closely, we'd pinpoint a unique story, style, or symbol tied to their city and fans—like Boston's famous parquet floors or Portland's rose motifs. We'd layer that over the color gradient and mosaic, creating a flexible framework that's now standard for our designs.
NBA.com: So, this feels like a natural extension of last year's work, rather than a total overhaul?
Victor Solomon: Absolutely. We didn't push teams to start from scratch each time. Some even reused their overlay concepts from the previous year. As this tradition matures, these elements become tools for designers to tweak and evolve designs season after season, keeping things fresh without overwhelming anyone.
NBA.com: With such a massive undertaking, do you approach it differently from your other artistic projects?
Victor Solomon: It's a whole new category—distinct from my usual work. You're juggling creativity with real-world practicality: making courts that stand out in basketball history while ensuring they're workable for athletes, cameras, and fans. For instance, I leaned on each team's creative directors to gain insights into their local culture. I'm not on the ground in places like New Orleans to know what Pelicans fans truly resonate with.
Balancing all these factors was tricky but rewarding. Picture designing on a small laptop screen, then standing on the finished court or watching it on TV—it's surreal and humbling. To illustrate, think of it like tailoring a suit: It has to look great, fit perfectly, and not hinder movement.
NBA.com: How did experiencing last year's courts in person and on broadcasts shape your vision for this round?
Victor Solomon: As any passionate creator knows, satisfaction often means stagnation, so I'm constantly self-critiquing to push boundaries. A key takeaway from those bright, full-color designs—especially on teams with vivid palettes—was ensuring they enhance the view without stealing the spotlight from the action. We aim for an enriching addition, not an overload.
It's an experience that truly needs to be lived to grasp the intricacies.
NBA.com: Had you worked on basketball courts before this?
Victor Solomon: Yes, through my nonprofit that restores community courts, I've handled a few. But this NBA project is on a completely different level—a league-wide spectacle.
NBA.com: Broadcasters have restrictions on colors and patterns for TV clarity. Did you test those limits, or have you learned to steer clear in these initial seasons?
Victor Solomon: The NBA shared valuable lessons from year one, outlining boundaries to sidestep issues with visibility and player focus. For example, pure white is off-limits because it glares too brightly on screen and might disorient players. On the flip side, black absorbs too much light, obscuring jersey details and player motion.
Another twist: Designs must remain consistent from side to side, as the main camera sweeps across the court. If one half is darker, it could force exposure adjustments, leading to an uneven broadcast.
To prepare, we printed massive vinyl versions and tested them in Phoenix with actors in jerseys, filming from every angle. This became a standard step, refining our process significantly.
NBA.com: Any standout favorites among this year's designs?
Victor Solomon: I'm partial to my Boston Celtics— that parquet pattern is legendary. Last year's circular setups sometimes clashed with personalization, but this grid opens doors for more team input. The parquet now integrates beautifully with the framework.
NBA.com: Did any design pose extra challenges this time, or did the grid simplify things across the board?
Victor Solomon: I was genuinely impressed by every team's effort—that's what made it special.
Now, here's a thought to ponder: In a sport as fast-paced as basketball, do these artistic courts add excitement or create unnecessary distractions? Could they even influence gameplay subtly, like how stadium elements affect athletes? What do you think—the evolution of these designs is a stroke of genius, or are we risking the purity of the game? Share your views in the comments—do you agree with this artistic approach, or is simpler better? And what if teams started designing courts that challenge traditional norms, like incorporating digital elements? Let's discuss!
