Challenge

The lead-up to the NBA Finals is a fast moving elimination tournament, with teams whittled down until a single Eastern Conference and Western Conference team compete in the best-of-seven matchup. In 2026, for the first time, iconic halftime and postgame show Inside the NBA would broadcast live from the finals. Lighting designer Mike Grabowski and his team had to plan for their production to take place in eight possible arenas, and narrowed plans as teams were eliminated. “Here’s the part most folks overlook,” Grabowski says, “The Conference Finals end…and we need to be built up fast and broadcast ready 3 days later.”

Once gear and crew arrived at Madison Square Garden and the Frost Bank Center, the Inside the NBA team had to account for wildly different studio space and lighting situations. Lighting kit versatility was critical, and the entire broadcast and lighting package had to fit in just a few cases. Grabowski says, “The challenge really lies in not knowing what the levels and color quality are going to be. There are standards for an NBA court, but rarely for the audience area. We need a [soft source] that can play a little further away, or very close, and be able to spread.”

Solution

Central to both of the lighting kits were five NOVA II 2x1s, four for production with a backup unit. “The NOVA II 2x1 was the real key to making this all work,” Grabowski says. “It needed to have the right footprint, but have really good low end dimming, color fidelity, but also enough output to be able to match [ambient light levels]. The struggle we always have is balancing pollution from arena lights. Some are nice, some are bright, but some are very green. The spectral quality of the NOVA IIs were really what made this hit. It’s not just about replicating ‘perfect’ light, but rather being able to mimic whatever light we are having to deal with.”

The specially formulated BLAIR-CG light engine also improved fidelity. “The more comprehensive spectrum really made skin tones look better than they ever had in the past.”

Results

The 2026 NBA Finals were the most watched since 1998, with an average of 20.6 million viewers on ABC and ESPN. The successful in-arena Inside the NBA productions were another win for the long running, Emmy-winning show. Grabowski is incredibly proud of his team and their resourcefulness. “My gaffer, Sean Linehan, managed to get these packages to be efficient and flexible. Similarly, Kyle Collop, my Production Manager, has worked miracles with Drew Decorletto and Tara France at 4Wall to be ready. We are put in a scenario that sounds unhinged, and [the team] all did it with a smile and aplomb.”

Grabowski adds: “No matter how long you’ve done a project or a style of project, never be complacent. There are always margins to improve. To make it smoother, to make it look better. Why not look for those margins? The Aputure gear certainly helped on this one.”