If you saw the NBA Finals on ESPN, you know what we’re talking about ⛹️
For the 2026 NBA Finals, MakeMake introduced a new creative package for ESPN designed to celebrate the legends who defined the game while spotlighting the stars writing its next chapter.
All of it played out on basketball’s biggest stage.
Through design, animation, and VFX, MakeMake CD Duncan Elms and his team helped bring that spectacular vision to life. We spoke to Duncan and Editor Rachel Fowler, who shared insights into the creative process and what it means to contribute to one of the most-watched events in sports.
We Asked Editor Rachel Fowler:
What were the themes of each episode and how did you translate them visually?
We collaborated closely with the ESPN creative and editorial teams to translate each game's theme into a CG narrative inspired by iconic moments throughout NBA Finals history.
Game 1 established the STAGE, while Game 2 explored DESIRE, inspired by Rudy Tomjanovich's famous 1995 declaration, "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion." Game 3 celebrated WORLD CHAMPIONS and basketball's global reach, while Game 4 honored LEGENDS including Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving ("Dr. J"), and Michael Jordan. Game 5 centered on EPIPHANY, reflecting on the fleeting nature of the Finals experience. As for 6 and 7 those will be remain in the makemake/NBA vault.
We asked Creative Director Duncan Elms:
What was the creative vision behind the Finals intro package?
The core vision was to treat NBA history not just as a highlight reel, but as a living, breathing mythology. We wanted to answer the ultimate fan "what if" by taking everyone inside the ultimate prize: the Larry O’Brien trophy. By turning the inside of the trophy into this colossal, brutalist pantheon, we were able to create a space where past, present, and future eras could physically collide. The goal was to build an escalating, cinematic pre-game anthem that gives you chills and makes you feel the sheer weight of basketball immortality before the ball even tips.
What are you most proud of the team for accomplishing on this project?
Honestly, the sheer level of craftsmanship required to blend decades of radically different footage into a single aesthetic. We were taking broadcast clips from completely different eras—spanning multiple aspect ratios, lighting styles, and video qualities—and combining them with complex fluid simulations, full CG environments, and high-end animation. Finding a way to thread that needle so everything felt like it belonged in the same mythic world was a massive technical and creative challenge. When you look at the "Bullet Time" shots alone, some of those moments took over 120 hours of artist time—from modeling and cloth simulation to final composite—just to perfect a few seconds of screen time. The team paired our foundational, traditional CG pipelines with new technologies beautifully, working around the clock to honor these basketball legends. I’m incredibly proud of how they took a wildly ambitious concept and made it feel so vividly real.
Any last thoughts on the Finals?
It’s been absolutely unreal. The series shaped up to be an all-time classic—especially with that insane 29-point Knicks comeback in Game 4! We’re incredibly proud that our open was the one to introduce such an iconic matchup between New York and San Antonio, and we look forward to this piece living on in future years as part of NBA Finals history. That being said, we did selfishly hope the Spurs could rally and push to a Game 7. We built out so much intricate artwork, dynamic transitions, and team-specific variants for this package, and it would be have nice to show off every last bit of the massive work the team poured into it! However, we look forward to what our team could create next year!
