NBA Unveils Dates and Format for Second NBA Cup
The NBA has announced the dates and the format for the much-anticipated second NBA Cup, previously known as the In-Season Tournament. With a clear focus on adding excitement and significance to early-season games, the NBA is doubling down on its efforts with a format that builds on the success of last season's inaugural event.
The tournament will commence with group-play action starting on November 12, and the excitement will culminate with the semifinals and championship games set in Las Vegas on December 14 and December 17, respectively. Fans are eagerly anticipating another thrilling season after last year's finale, where the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Indiana Pacers with a decisive 123-109 victory.
LeBron James, a pivotal player for the Lakers, earned the tournament MVP honors last season, adding another accolade to his illustrious career. This year's NBA Cup continues to uphold the format that heightened interest and competitiveness during the early part of the NBA schedule last season. All 30 NBA teams will be randomly assigned into six groups of five, based on their records from the previous season.
The draw for these groups is set to take place this Friday. Teams will engage in group-play on designated "Cup Nights," held on Tuesdays and Fridays between November 12 and December 3. Each team will face the other four teams in their assigned group once during this period. The top team from each of the six groups will advance to the knockout stage, along with two "wild card" teams from each conference that have the best records in group play but finished second in their group. This setup will yield a total of eight teams moving forward to the knockout phase, which is set to commence on December 10.
The knockout stage will employ a single-elimination format, heightening the stakes for each game. The semifinals will take place in Las Vegas on December 14, leading up to the championship game on December 17. The NBA has also announced a substantial prize money pool to be split between the winners and the runners-up, adding an extra layer of motivation for the competing teams. Last season, each player on the victorious Lakers team received $500,000 while the Pacers players, as runners-up, took home $200,000.
In tandem with the announcement of the tournament details, the NBA also unveiled a revamped logo for the NBA Cup. The new design incorporates the name of the tournament and the trophy, accompanied by the event's official sponsor, Emirates. This branding effort underscores the growing significance of the tournament within the broader NBA season.
Reflecting on last season, the introduction of the NBA Cup undeniably spurred increased interest and competitiveness early in the NBA schedule. The league is optimistic that this second iteration of the tournament will build upon that solid foundation, offering fans more thrilling games and memorable moments. With elite teams and star players set to compete for the coveted NBA Cup, the stage is set for another captivating chapter in this innovative tournament format.