The NBA is 75 years old. The Association made a cultural sensation out of the anniversary

On June 17, the Golden State Warriors became NBA champions. The 2021/2022 season was held under the auspices of the 75th anniversary of the Association. It was founded on June 6, 1946 in New York, and the first ever game was played on November 1, 1946.

The NBA is obviously the strongest basketball league in the world, but in addition, it shows all sports associations how to promote sports and athletes in every corner of the planet. The NBA started preparing for the anniversary in advance, and it turned out to be an amazing show. The iconic logo of the association in the form of a diamond became the symbol of the anniversary.

All the events were accompanied by video content, in which it was possible to collect great NBA stars – both current and completed career – in the celebratory videos starred Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Russell Westbrook and other stars.

And leading basketball brands Nike and Jordan released special collections of game uniforms in honor of the 75th anniversary.

The diamond symbol also determined the main direction for partner projects – real works of art were created for the anniversary.

Floating courts

Cooperation with the French cognac house Hennessy led to a global program Court Beyond Limits to build floating courts in the most unusual and beautiful places on the planet.

A year ago, a famous oceanfront swimming pool in Australia was drained for the project to build a luxury basketball court. Later, the court was launched into open water – right on the waves of Sydney Bay. Such a court has appeared in Nigeria and now on the Thames.

Timed to the final series of games, the action lasted for three days, during which several concerts and master classes were held on the court.

Crystal balls from Baccarat

The cooperation between Hennessy and the NBA did not end on the floating courts. For the anniversary, a special series of goods was released, as well as a collector’s edition.

The drink is bottled in special decanters in the shape of basketballs. The unique decanter is made of Baccarat crystal and cut by hand.

The Hennessy Paradis x NBA special edition comes with a wooden box, two crystal ball glasses and a key to open the box and the lid of the crystal decanter.

New trophies from Tiffany & Co

Before the conference finals, the NBA decided to unveil new trophies. Jeweler Victor Salomon and the Tiffany & Co. jewelry house worked on their design. The updated collection includes six trophies for the conference winners, the association champion and vice-champion, as well as for the most valuable player of the final series.

The trophies are handcrafted in sterling silver and 24-karat gold.

In addition to these trophies, Victor Salomon created the awards for the All NBA ceremony. This is a symbolic ceremony where the three best five players at the end of the season are determined.

There were 15 palantirs for the top stars. Five for the top five, five for the second and the same number for the third.

Louis Vuitton handbag collection

For the past two years, Louis Vuitton has partnered with the NBA to produce exclusive sportswear and cases for the champions’ ultimate trophy. 2022 saw the release of the brands’ third joint 75th anniversary collection, consisting of bags, backpacks and organizers in 75th anniversary colors.

The brand did not stay away from the long-standing tradition and updated the case for the new Larry O’Brien trophy.

The trophy case features heavy brass locks and hardware, a hand-painted “V” – the symbol of victory – on the folding doors, as well as the LV logo in the shape of a basketball and a microfiber lining.

ESPN’s Winning Points

For its 75th birthday, the NBA even made winners’ glasses. They’re designed to allow players to douse themselves with champagne in the locker room.

It’s a collaboration between the league and MOET and ESPN. The set includes the goggles themselves with a gold visor and a bottle of champagne. The design of the goggles consists of a mirrored front with gold inserts, smooth gold trim and a black outer band of stretch fabric.

These are just a few examples of how to beat a sporting event and take it to the next level.