The 2026 NBA Playoffs are here and we're ranking every single court being used in Round 1. There are 18 of them. Most teams stick with one court for the whole postseason, but the Spurs are rotating between their Fiesta City Edition court and their primary, and the Lakers are switching between their iconic gold court and their black alternate. Cavs are skipping their primary entirely for the LeBron-era throwback. The Sixers are doing the same with their classic throwback court. We graded all 18 on our 10-point aesthetic scale and ranked them from worst to best.
2026 NBA Playoff Court Average
8.2 / 10
18 Courts. Round 1 Aesthetic Grade.
Spoiler Top 5
- Los Angeles Lakers (Primary) — 10 / 10
- New York Knicks — 9.5 / 10
- Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron Throwback) — 9.5 / 10
- San Antonio Spurs (Fiesta City Edition) — 9.5 / 10
- Boston Celtics (Classic Parquet) — 9 / 10
Skip to #18 Phoenix Suns (3.0) for the worst-ranked playoff court of the 2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1.
How We Grade NBA Playoff Courts
Our 10-point court scale comes down to four things: identity (does it feel like THIS team), contrast (does the broadcast pop), color play (are the colors confident or muddy), and atmosphere (does it elevate the playoff moment or sit there flat). Throwback courts and City Edition courts get full credit when they commit to an identity. Generic dark courts lose points for bleeding into the broadcast.
- 9.5 to 10: Iconic, instantly recognizable, the gold standard
- 8 to 9: Strong identity, great visual, no major flaws
- 7 to 7.5: Clean and serviceable, missing some personality
- 5 to 6.5: Notable design or branding flaws, drags the broadcast
- 0 to 4: Boring, dark, or otherwise hurting the playoff atmosphere
Now let's get into it. Worst to best.
#18: Phoenix Suns
This one is rough. We don't like how dark the Suns court is and we don't like how little is happening on it. Phoenix has one of the best color palettes in the entire NBA with their purple, orange, and black, and the court is barely using any of it. The result is a flat, boring playoff floor that doesn't pop on broadcast and doesn't feel like a Suns home game. Dead last for a reason.
#17: Los Angeles Lakers (Black Alternate)
The Lakers are using this in Game 2 against the Rockets and we hate the decision. The Lakers have one of the most iconic primary courts in basketball and they're swapping it for a black alternate in the second game of Round 1. Why. The court itself isn't terrible. The black-and-purple Lakers branding is fine. But it's not what a Lakers playoff game should look like and using it on top of the black alternate jerseys turns Crypto.com Arena into a goth basketball game. Bring back the gold.
#16: Atlanta Hawks
We like the colors. We don't love the execution. The Hawks have a great red and volt yellow palette and the court uses both, but the overall feel is just too dark. There's no breathing room on the floor and the dark wood treatment fights the brighter brand colors instead of letting them pop. A lighter floor or more white space would push this up significantly. As-is, it's a decent court that sells itself short.
#15: San Antonio Spurs (Primary)
A classic. A classic that doesn't do much. The Spurs primary court is the team's traditional black and silver look that's been part of their identity for decades. We respect the consistency, but stacked against the rest of the league's playoff floors, it lands as pretty boring. Lucky for the Spurs, they're also using the Fiesta court alongside this one in Round 1, and that's where the real magic happens. The primary court is the safe, traditional option.
#14: Houston Rockets
Clean but boring. The Rockets court is a serviceable NBA floor that doesn't make any major mistakes, but it also doesn't do anything exciting. The red and black branding is fine, the typography is clean, and that's about it. Houston has a strong color identity that this court isn't fully using. The best of the three teams tied at 7.5, and the cleanest looking of the bottom tier.
#13: Denver Nuggets
The shade of blue is good but a touch too dark for our taste. We'd love to see this whole thing brightened up a step. What saves it is the detail work in the corners. The yellow stars near the team benches are a great touch and add the kind of identity that a lot of NBA courts forget to include. The Nuggets have built a real visual brand over the past few years and the court reflects it without going overboard. Solid 8.
#12: Portland Trail Blazers
A lot is happening on this floor and we mostly love it. The Blazers' pinwheel design is one of the most recognizable visual marks in the NBA and the court leans into it hard. There's red, there's black, there's the Rip City script work, and the overall composition is busy in a good way. It pushes right up against being too much, but lands on the right side. A few quieter design choices and this could have been even higher.
#11: Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves are using their black alternate court for the first two games of their Round 1 series and we like almost everything about it. The branding is sharp, the floor design has personality, and the overall package screams playoff identity. The only knock is that it's a very dark court overall and that drags the broadcast a step. If this were on a slightly lighter base, it would be A territory. As-is, a strong B+.
#10: Oklahoma City Thunder
Simple, all blue, and we actually really like it. The Thunder went minimalist and it works. The blue is rich, the typography is clean, and the floor doesn't try to do too much. The one knock is contrast. Without much variation in tone, the court doesn't pop the way it could on a wide camera shot. But the identity is clear and the design is confident, which is more than half the league can say.
#9: Toronto Raptors
Simple, clean, and we love the claw marks. The Raptors court keeps it minimal but adds the perfect amount of identity with the claw graphics in key spots. It's the kind of design move that makes you remember whose court you're watching without overdoing it. The red and black palette is confident and the floor stays bright enough to look great on broadcast. One of the more underrated playoff floors in the league.
#8: Philadelphia 76ers (Throwback)
The Sixers are skipping their primary court entirely for the first two games of their Round 1 series against the Celtics in favor of this throwback alternate. It's beautiful. The retro Philly branding, the classic colors, the period-correct layout — all of it lands. The only ding is the same one we keep giving out: it runs slightly too dark for our taste. If the base were a touch brighter, this would push into A territory. Still, an inspired playoff choice that more teams should be willing to make.
#7: Orlando Magic
The Magic court is one of the cleanest visual identity plays in the league. The blue is the right shade, the design is confident without being busy, and the team has clearly thought about how the court reads on broadcast. Orlando has been quietly building one of the better visual brands in the East over the last few years, and the court reflects that. A real top-tier playoff floor that more people should be talking about.
#6: Detroit Pistons
We really like the red, white, and blue of the Pistons court. It's classic, timeless, and feels like a Detroit basketball court the second the broadcast cuts to it. The color blocking is confident, the typography is clean, and the floor has that grown-up NBA feel that the team's recent Bad Boys-era branding work has been building toward. A great playoff court for a team that's bringing playoff basketball back to Detroit.
#5: Boston Celtics
The Celtics are using their classic parquet court for the entire 2026 playoffs and we love it. The parquet is one of the most recognizable surfaces in basketball and there's no reason to mess with it for the postseason. Boston knows what they have and is letting it carry. Beautiful, timeless, instantly identifiable. The only reason this isn't even higher is that it's the same court they use all season, so it doesn't get the bump that a special playoff treatment would bring.
#4: San Antonio Spurs (Fiesta)
The vibe is incredible. We love the Fiesta colors, the way the pink and teal and orange and yellow all play off each other, and the way the whole arena experience comes together with the matching jerseys and the t-shirt-draped seats in the crowd. The Spurs have built one of the best total visual packages in basketball and the court is the centerpiece. The only thing keeping this from cracking the top three is we wish the Spurs were also wearing their primary whites instead of going head-to-toe in the City Edition black. With white jerseys on this court, this would be a perfect 10. As-is, an incredible 9.5 and easily one of the most fun playoff courts in the entire league.
#3: Cleveland Cavaliers (Throwback)
The Cavs are skipping their primary court entirely for Round 1 and going with their throwback alternate, which is a near-replica of the court they used during the LeBron era. It's a great call. The wine and gold colors, the classic typography, and the look that takes Cleveland fans back to 2016 is the perfect playoff move. A team using their court to tell a story is one of our favorite things in sports design and the Cavs are doing it as well as anyone in the league this postseason.
#2: New York Knicks
The Knicks court at Madison Square Garden is classic and very nice. The branding is dialed in, the floor reads great on TV, and the whole thing feels like New York basketball. The only knock is contrast. Without a lot of color variation across the court, it can feel a touch flat on certain wide camera shots. But the identity is locked in and MSG itself adds atmosphere that pushes this past most other floors. A top-tier playoff court for the most famous arena in basketball, and the second-best court in the entire postseason.
#1: Los Angeles Lakers (Primary)
The Lakers primary court is the gold standard. Purple and gold, clean typography, the wordmark in the right place, the lane in iconic Lakers purple — this is what an NBA playoff court is supposed to look like. There is a reason this floor has been the visual standard in the league for decades. The colors are confident, the design is timeless, and the broadcast loves it. A perfect 10. Now the Lakers just have to commit to using it for every game of the postseason instead of switching to the black alternate in Game 2.
The Top 5 Takeaways
Quick Hits
- Best court: Lakers primary (10.0)
- Worst court: Suns (3.0)
- Best throwback court: Cavs LeBron-era throwback (9.5)
- Best City Edition court: Spurs Fiesta (9.5)
- Best classic primary court: Knicks at MSG (9.5)
- Most disappointing decision: Lakers swapping to black alternate court for Game 2
- Average score across 18 courts: 8.2 / 10
The 2026 NBA Playoffs floor lineup is one of the strongest in recent memory. Half the league is using a primary court at full identity strength, several teams are leaning into throwbacks and City Editions for playoff atmosphere, and only a couple of teams are wasting the moment with boring or overly dark designs. The Lakers, Knicks, Cavs, and Spurs are setting the bar. The Suns are setting the floor. Everyone else falls somewhere in between.
More 2026 NBA Playoffs Coverage
For every Round 1 jersey matchup graded on the same 10-point scale, see our 2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1 Jersey Tracker, which includes the Spurs Fiesta arena, the Knicks Always Knicks t-shirt takeover, and the Thunder Paycom Center playoff setup. For the long-overdue news that the Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally returning to the NBA Finals court for the first time since 2009, read our NBA Finals court 2026 announcement breakdown. For the full visual history of NBA playoff branding from 2010 to today and how we got to this point, check our NBA Playoffs branding history post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best NBA playoff court for 2026? The Los Angeles Lakers primary court at Crypto.com Arena scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our ranking. The iconic purple and gold design with classic Lakers typography and lane treatment makes it the gold standard for NBA playoff floors.
What is the worst NBA playoff court for 2026? The Phoenix Suns court at Footprint Center scored the lowest at 3 out of 10. The design is too dark, too boring, and barely uses the team's strong purple and orange color palette. It's a flat playoff floor that doesn't pop on broadcast.
Are the Lakers using two different courts in the 2026 playoffs? Yes. The Los Angeles Lakers are rotating between their primary purple and gold court, which scored 10 out of 10, and their black alternate court, which scored 6.5 out of 10. The black court is being used in Game 2 of their Round 1 series against the Houston Rockets alongside their black alternate jerseys.
What is the Spurs Fiesta court? The Spurs Fiesta court at Frost Bank Center is San Antonio's pink, teal, orange, and yellow City Edition court. The Spurs are using it for their Round 1 series against the Portland Trail Blazers, with matching arena seat colors and Fiesta-themed City Edition jerseys. It scored 9.5 out of 10 in our ranking, second only to the Lakers primary court.
Are the Cavs using their throwback court for the 2026 playoffs? Yes. The Cleveland Cavaliers are skipping their primary court entirely for Round 1 and using their LeBron-era throwback alternate court at Rocket Arena. It is a near-replica of the wine and gold court Cleveland used during the LeBron James era and scored 9.5 out of 10 in our ranking.
Are the 76ers using a throwback court for the 2026 playoffs? Yes. The Philadelphia 76ers are using their throwback alternate court for the first two games of their Round 1 series against the Boston Celtics. The retro Philly design honors the franchise's classic look and scored 8.5 out of 10 in our ranking.
Are the Celtics using their classic parquet court for the playoffs? Yes. The Boston Celtics are using their classic parquet court at TD Garden for the entire 2026 NBA Playoffs. The parquet is one of the most recognizable surfaces in basketball and scored 9 out of 10 in our ranking.
How are NBA playoff courts decided? NBA teams choose their court designs in advance and submit them to the league for approval. Teams can rotate between their primary court, alternate courts, City Edition courts, and throwback courts during the playoffs. Some teams stick with one court for the entire postseason, while others change courts within a single series.
Which NBA playoff court has the most colorful design? The San Antonio Spurs Fiesta court has the most colorful design in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, with pink, teal, orange, and yellow accents painted across the floor. It scored 9.5 out of 10 in our ranking and is one of the most visually striking playoff floors in the league.
What is the second-best NBA playoff court for 2026? The New York Knicks court at Madison Square Garden is the second-best playoff court in the 2026 NBA Playoffs at 9.5 out of 10. The classic Knicks branding, the iconic MSG atmosphere, and the timeless court design make it the best primary court in the league outside of the Lakers.
Which NBA team has the best alternate court? The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best alternate court in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Their LeBron-era throwback court at Rocket Arena scored 9.5 out of 10, and the Cavs are using it as their full-time court for Round 1 of the postseason instead of their primary court.
How many NBA teams are using two different courts in the 2026 playoffs? Two NBA teams are rotating between multiple courts in Round 1 of the 2026 playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers are using both their primary purple-and-gold court and their black alternate court, and the San Antonio Spurs are using both their primary court and their Fiesta City Edition court.
Which NBA playoff court has the best identity? The Los Angeles Lakers primary court at Crypto.com Arena has the strongest visual identity of any 2026 NBA playoff court. The combination of purple paint, gold typography, the iconic Lakers wordmark, and the recognizable lane treatment makes it the gold standard for NBA court design and the only court in our ranking to earn a perfect 10.
What is the Sixers throwback court? The Philadelphia 76ers throwback court at Wells Fargo Center is a retro design that honors the franchise's classic look. The Sixers are using it as their full-time court for the first two games of their Round 1 series against the Boston Celtics, and it scored 8.5 out of 10 in our ranking.
Why are the Lakers using two courts in the 2026 playoffs? The Lakers are rotating between their primary purple-and-gold court and their black City Edition alternate court to match their jerseys. They wear gold jerseys on the primary court and black jerseys on the black court. We graded the primary at 10 out of 10 and the black alternate at 6.5 out of 10, and we strongly prefer the team commit to the gold for the entire postseason.
Court rankings reflect aesthetic grades based on identity, contrast, color, and atmosphere. We will update if more teams swap to alternate or throwback courts as the playoffs progress.