Creation of the 'Larry O'Brien Trophy'

The Larry O'Brien Trophy is one of sports' most meticulously crafted awards. Two Tiffany & Co. artisans spend over 65 hours building each trophy by hand at their Rhode Island workshop. You're looking at 14.5 pounds of sterling silver coated with 24-karat gold, featuring a regulation 9-inch basketball. The precious metals alone are worth around $13,500. There's even more fascinating history and craftsmanship behind this iconic championship prize waiting for you ahead.

Key Takeaways

• Tiffany & Co. has handcrafted the Larry O'Brien Trophy since 1977, making their partnership with the NBA over 46 years long.
• Two skilled Tiffany artisans at their Cumberland, Rhode Island workshop spend over 65 hours crafting each trophy.
• The trophy combines 14.5 pounds of sterling silver with a 1.5-pound 24-karat gold overlay, valued at approximately $13,500.
• In 2022, the trophy was redesigned to celebrate the NBA's 75th anniversary, nearly doubling in weight to 30 pounds.
• Designer Victor Solomon collaborated with Tiffany & Co. and the NBA to create the 2022 redesign, featuring a forward-positioned basketball.

Who Was Larry O'Brien and Why Does the Trophy Bear His Name?

Before the Larry O'Brien Trophy became the NBA's most coveted prize, it bore the name of the league itself — but the man it was renamed for in 1984 earned that honor through a remarkable journey from Springfield, Massachusetts politics to the halls of professional basketball.

O'Brien served as special assistant to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, helped pass landmark legislation, and led the Democratic National Committee. His sports administration background was nontraditional, yet his high-stakes negotiating experience proved exactly what the struggling NBA needed when he became commissioner in 1975.

He grew the league from 18 to 23 teams, secured a major CBS television deal, and oversaw the ABA-NBA merger. His post commissioner legacy was so transformative that the league permanently attached his name to its ultimate prize. One of his most lasting rule changes came in 1979, when he introduced the 3-point field goal to the game.

The trophy itself is a stunning piece of craftsmanship, standing two feet tall and weighing approximately 15 pounds, constructed from sterling silver with a 24-karat gold overlay and featuring a regulation-sized basketball perched at its top.

How the Larry O'Brien Trophy Replaced the Walter A. Brown Award

The Walter A. Brown Trophy launched the permanent ownership model in 1977 when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers. Unlike its predecessor, this design gave winning teams their own trophy to keep, mirroring the NFL's Vince Lombardi Trophy approach.

The shift from Brown to O'Brien unfolded gradually. The Philadelphia 76ers claimed the final Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1983, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers.

One year later, the NBA officially renamed the award to honor outgoing commissioner Larry O'Brien. The Boston Celtics then became the first team to lift the newly named Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, defeating the Lakers in seven games. This championship legacy continuity preserved the award's history while evolving to reflect executive leadership that shaped the modern NBA.

Why the Larry O'Brien Trophy Is Crafted by Tiffany & Co

When the NBA needed a craftsman worthy of its ultimate prize, it turned to Tiffany & Co., a partnership that's endured since 1977. The luxury house's craftsmanship quality made it the obvious choice, combining goldsmithing, silversmithing, engraving, and casting techniques that few manufacturers can match.

Brand recognition significance also plays a major role. You can't separate Tiffany & Co.'s prestigious reputation from the trophy's perceived value — both carry weight that reinforces the NBA's elite status.

The relationship has since expanded beyond the Larry O'Brien Trophy, with Tiffany & Co. designing conference championship trophies since 2001 and the Bill Russell Trophy since 2005. After 46 years, this partnership continues demonstrating that championship hardware deserves nothing less than the world's most respected luxury craftsman. Each trophy is a testament to meticulous dedication, with Tiffany artisans spending over 65 hours crafting the Larry O'Brien Trophy across a six-month production period. The finished product weighs in at 14.5 lbs. of sterling silver, complemented by approximately 1.5 pounds of 24-karat gold overlay, making it a true masterwork of precious metals.

What Is the Larry O'Brien Trophy Actually Made Of?

Every Larry O'Brien Trophy is crafted from vermeil — sterling silver coated in 24-karat gold — giving it both durability and that signature gleaming finish. These trophy design specifications guarantee each piece maintains consistent quality and appearance year after year.

• 14.5 pounds of 925-grade sterling silver forms the base
• 1.5 pounds of 24-karat gold overlay coats the surface
• The basketball element measures a regulation 9-inch diameter
• The trophy stands 2 feet tall overall
• Total precious metals are valued at approximately $13,500

Trophy durability comes from the vermeil process itself, which bonds gold directly to silver. Tiffany & Co. sources high-purity metals annually, engraving each trophy with the winning year and team name. Similarly, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is also crafted from sterling silver, connecting two of America's most iconic sports championships through shared materials.

How Two Artisans Hand-Build Each Larry O'Brien Trophy in 80 Hours

Behind those 16 pounds of gleaming vermeil lies an equally impressive human story. Two skilled artisans at Tiffany's Cumberland, Rhode Island workshop dedicate over 65 hours across six months to craft each Larry O'Brien Trophy. That aligns with the artisans' meticulous process benchmark of 80 hand-building hours per trophy.

These craftspeople don't pick up their tools after a weekend course. They've spent decades mastering gold and silversmithing techniques, including engraving, casting, and etching. The trophy's crafting timeline reflects that expertise at every stage.

You'll find this same commitment throughout Tiffany's broader NBA work. The WNBA Finals Trophy takes four months, while NBA In-Season Tournament trophies demand 240 total hours over 21 weeks. Every piece receives the same relentless pursuit of perfection. Tiffany's relationship with the NBA spans 46 years, having designed and manufactured the Larry O'Brien Trophy since 1977.

Why the Larry O'Brien Trophy Features a Regulation-Size Basketball and Hoop

The Larry O'Brien Trophy doesn't just symbolize basketball greatness — it physically embodies it. Every design choice prioritizes authenticity, from its regulation-size basketball to its iconic hoop-and-net silhouette. The artistic symbolism balances basketball proportions with lifelike craftsmanship, making it instantly recognizable worldwide.

Here's what makes these design elements significant:

• The basketball matches actual NBA game-used dimensions exactly
• The hoop and net recreate the sport's most iconic moment
• The forward slant symbolizes the league's ongoing momentum
• Sterling silver and 24-karat gold overlay highlight key details
• The design has maintained this motif since its 1977 debut

You're looking at a trophy that avoids exaggeration, choosing realism over artistic liberties to create a true championship icon. Starting in 2026, the Larry O'Brien Trophy will be painted at center court during the NBA Finals, restoring a tradition last seen in 2009.

How the Larry O'Brien Trophy Was Redesigned for the NBA's 75th Anniversary

After 45 years of unchanged design, the NBA revealed a reimagined Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2022 to celebrate its 75th anniversary season. Working alongside Tiffany & Co. and designer Victor Solomon, the league made subtle yet meaningful updates carrying symbolic trophy significance throughout every detail.

You'll notice the basketball now sits forward on the net, representing a future-focused vision. Sterling silver accents enhance both the ball and net channels, while a redesigned round base replaced the original square foundation. The trophy grew from 24.5 to 25.5 inches tall, with weight nearly doubling to 30 pounds.

Both base disks honor champions past and present, creating championship team motivation by connecting current contenders to 75 years of NBA history. Tiffany's Rhode Island team handcrafted each piece individually. The Golden State Warriors were the first team presented with the newly redesigned trophy when they claimed the 2022 NBA Championship.

The trophy was originally named after Boston Celtics founder Walter A. Brown before being renamed in honor of former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien in 1984.

Where the Larry O'Brien Trophy Goes After the Championship Celebration

Once the championship parade ends and the confetti settles, winning teams take permanent ownership of the Larry O'Brien Trophy — and they're free to do with it as they please. Trophy preservation methods and ownership changeover processes vary widely across franchises.

Teams display trophies prominently in arenas or facility entrances. The NBA never reclaims trophies after championship celebrations. Sellers retain trophies during ownership transitions, as the Houston Rockets case proved.

Poor storage can damage trophies, requiring costly restoration. The Wizards' 1978 trophy spent years in a deceased employee's closet before recovery. The 1978 championship team featured Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes, two of the franchise's most celebrated players.

Once retrieved, the Wizards' trophy underwent three months of restoration by Tiffany's and now sits near Capital One Arena's entrance. The trophy logo's cultural significance extends beyond the physical award, as fans successfully pushed the NBA to return the painted trophy logo to center court at the Finals beginning next season.