The main trophy of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which is awarded to the winner of the final four, will be seen in Vilnius for the first time in history. The updated NBA Champions Cup named after Larry O'Brien will come to Lithuania for one day, accompanied by NBA representatives. On August 18, one of the most expensive trophies in the world of sports will be exhibited in the premises of the OlyBet sports bar and grill in the capital, where the "Basketball Day" will take place.
Since 1977 The NBA's Larry O'Brien Gold Cup has been renewed for the 75th season and this summer, it was awarded for the first time to last season's winner, the San Francisco Golden State Warriors. It was the fifth time the team won the Larry O'Brien Cup. The Los Angeles Lakers club has won it the most times - 11, the Chicago Bulls - 6, and the San Antonio Spurs - also 5 times.
The updated cup is 61 cm tall, made of just over 7 kg of silver and plated with 24 carat gold. The golden ball embedded in the top of the cup, which resembles the net of a basketball hoop, is the size of a real basketball.
The base of the updated trophy consists of two circular discs: the names of the 75 NBA team champions are engraved on the upper one, and the names of the winning teams from this year are engraved on the lower disc. For now, only the name "Warriors" is emblazoned here. It is estimated that there will be enough space on the lower disk for 25 champions, so it will be filled after the winner of the 100th season is determined.
Since 1977 this cup is produced annually for the new NBA champion by famous JAV jewelry company Tiffany & Co. It is said to be one of the most expensive sports trophies - its price is about 13,5 thousand. US dollars (about 13,2 thousand euros).
The main NBA trophy can usually be seen in the arenas of the league's winners, less often outside of them, and it is especially rare that they travel abroad. The Larry O'Brien Cup will be accompanied to Vilnius by NBA representatives, and it will be given special protection. The cup will be displayed in an exclusive LED display stand. The next day, the NBA trophy will be taken to Latvia for display.
Larry O'Brien was the NBA's third commissioner, playing a major role in expanding the league from 18 to 23 teams, negotiating highly lucrative television contracts, coordinating the 1976 merger between the NBA and the American Basketball Association (ABA), and enacting the three-point line agreement. , wage caps and the fight against drugs.
During "Basketball Day", on June 18, in the premises of "OlyBet sport bar and grill", Konstitucijos pr. 20, in Vilnius, the Larry O'Brien Cup from 11 a.m. to 23 p.m. it will be possible not only to view, but also to take a selfie with it. A brainstorming session about basketball led by Roko Jama Grajauskas will also take place here, and from 19.30:XNUMX p.m. basketball fans are invited to watch the live broadcast of the friendly match between the national teams of Lithuania and Spain.
