NBA adds coach prize pool to In-Season Tournament payouts

Engaging players, fans, and coaches is the NBA’s ultimate challenge when it comes to the In-Season Tournament. As per NBC Sports, most players, like Bones Hyland, unintentionally express their lack of enthusiasm towards the tournament.

Players are mainly motivated by the financial aspect, with a prize of $500,000 for the winners. Additionally, players from the eight teams that make it to the knockout round also receive a bonus.

Interestingly, the same approach is being used to encourage coaches to participate, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The head coach of the winning team will receive $500,000, while assistant coaches will also receive a bonus. Coaches of the eight teams that reach the knockout round will also be compensated.

According to sources, the league’s coaching leadership met with commissioner Adam Silver in September to discuss the concept of providing coaches with bonus money. This ultimately led to the established structure. The players’ portion of the tournament revenue was collectively bargained with the National Basketball Players Association. The NBA anticipates that the in-season tournament will significantly generate revenue in the upcoming media rights deal, revitalizing interest and viewership during the somewhat monotonous regular season.

The overall sentiment within the league suggests that players are not necessarily against the In-Season Tournament; some are genuinely excited about it. However, for most players, it is just another game that matters as much as a regular season game. Once they enter the knockout stage, where there is a financial incentive and a mid-season trip to Las Vegas at stake, their motivation is likely to increase. However,for the group stage that starts Friday night, it’s simply another game, at least for this inaugural year.

Now, the coaches have their share of motivation as well. While NBA coaches are well-compensated, the $500,000 prize (or a lesser amount for those making it to the final eight) will undoubtedly be a significant boost, especially compared to star players.