excitement mounts for NBA’s first in-season tournament

When 74-year-old San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich expresses excitement about something, you know it’s a big deal. Known for his composed and reserved demeanor, Popovich rarely speaks in hyperbole. So when he says that the new NBA in-season tournament is “exciting for everybody,” you can feel the genuine enthusiasm.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Popovich emphasized the competitiveness of NBA players and how the tournament will fuel their drive to win. “You have to understand all these guys are very competitive,” Popovich said. “If you put something out there like this, it just adds to that competition.”

The new in-season tournament has garnered support from various figures in the league, including current and former players, coaches, representatives, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver. As the regular season stretches for 82 games over six-plus months (plus playoffs), the tournament aims to inject excitement into the season and offer teams an additional trophy to compete for.

The tournament features all 30 NBA teams divided into five six-team brackets, based on their win-loss records from the previous season. The teams will participate in a group stage, facing off against the other teams in their pod in four designated games throughout November. The six group winners and two wildcards (teams with the best records that did not win their group) will advance to a single-elimination knockout stage in Las Vegas, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and championship game taking place in early December.

The NBA has also announced special uniforms and court displays for the tournament games. The winning team will be awarded the inaugural NBA Cup trophy and a cash prize of $500,000 per player. All games played during the tournament will count towards each team’s 82-game schedule, except for the final, which will serve as an extra 83rd game for the teams in the championship. Teams that do not reach the final will have additional home and away games scheduled in early December to make up the difference.

Aside from generating excitement for fans and providing a potential TV rights package to increase revenue, the tournament aims to highlight teams that may not be traditional NBA championship contenders. NBA commissioner Adam Silver views the tournament as another innovative venture following the success of the play-in tournament introduced earlier this decade.

While the first year of the tournament holds some mystery, many individuals involved in the league have embraced the new addition. Former Charlotte Hornets point guard Muggsy Bogues believes the tournament will provide players and organizations with an incentive to compete for something beyond the finals. Current NBA stars, including Anthony Davis and Trae Young, have participated in ad campaigns promoting the tournament, lending their support to the initiative. Coaches like the Golden State Warriors’ Steve Kerr, a former player under Popovich, express excitement and see the tournament as an opportunity to motivate players.

Kerr acknowledges that winning the inaugural NBA Cup would be a significant achievement, especially for veteran-laden teams like the Warriors. It could also serve as a stepping stone for younger teams who may not have immediate hopes of winning a title this year. While Kerr suggests potential tweaks for future editions, he remains optimistic about the tournament and its impact on his team. “I can’t wait to get on the floor,” he said.

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Emily Turner

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