The NBA is set to introduce a new in-season tournament this upcoming season, with hopes of creating a championship that will resonate with fans, players, and teams. The tournament, called the NBA Cup, will award the winning team with a half-million dollars for each player. The competition will consist of two stages: group play and a knockout stage.
The group stage games will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays in November, with teams divided into six groups of five teams each based on conference. The winners of each group, along with the second-place team with the best record in each conference, will advance to the knockout stage. The quarterfinals will be held on December 4th and 5th in the home arenas of the participating teams, followed by the semifinals on December 7th and the final on December 9th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The format of the tournament draws inspiration from popular international soccer tournaments and aims to establish a new tradition within the NBA. Evan Wasch, the NBA’s EVP of basketball strategy and analytics, believes that the tournament will add value to the league and become a significant event in future years.
To ensure fairness, the league will randomly assign the 15 teams in each conference to three different groups. The teams with the three best records in each conference during the 2022-23 season will be placed in one group, followed by the next three best teams in another group, and so on. Each group will consist of four group play games.
The introduction of the tournament will bring some changes to the regular season schedule. Teams will only have 80 games scheduled, with two additional games marked as TBD. The 22 teams that do not qualify for the knockout stage will have those two games scheduled during the group stage of the tournament. The losing quarterfinalists will also play each other during the night of the semifinals.
In addition to a new trophy, the tournament will feature new jerseys for each team and a revamped setup inside the arena. The winning team will be crowned with the NBA Cup, and each player on the winning team will receive $500,000. Players on the second-place team will earn $200,000 each, while players on the losing semifinals teams will receive $100,000 each. The quarterfinalists will earn $50,000 per player. These amounts will increase each season based on the league’s revenue growth.
The NBA considered various ideas before settling on this format for the tournament. Options such as awarding automatic playoff berths, draft picks, or cap exceptions to winning teams were considered. The league also explored the possibility of holding the tournament outside of the regular season and not counting the games towards the standings. Ultimately, the decision was made to have the tournament stand alone to maximize its importance and not be seen as a stepping stone to the traditional playoffs and finals.
There has been some skepticism surrounding the in-season tournament, but the NBA is confident that acceptance will come over time. To prevent teams from resting star players during tournament games, the league will avoid scheduling games back-to-back, especially on the second night. The NBA is also working with the NBPA to update its player resting policy, which will align with the tournament but extend beyond it.
Commissioner Adam Silver drew inspiration for the in-season tournament from Europe’s cup competitions, which run concurrently with domestic leagues. While the NBA’s tournament will feature the same 30 teams, Wasch believes that it is not the difference in competition that will attract fans but rather the intensity and care displayed by the players. He cited the highly competitive 2020 All-Star Game as an example of an exhibition that drew in viewers.
Although the tournament will debut this season, it may undergo changes and tweaks in future years. The NBA is open to learning and studying to determine if there is a better way to structure the tournament. Wasch emphasized that the league is not committed to the initial format and is willing to adapt and evolve over time.
Overall, the NBA’s new in-season tournament aims to create a second championship and establish a legacy for teams and players. With its unique format and substantial prize money, the league hopes to capture the attention of fans and become a significant event in the NBA season.