The NBA has officially announced the dates and format for the second NBA Cup, a rebranded version of the In-Season Tournament. With a successful inaugural season that saw the Los Angeles Lakers taking home the title and LeBron James earning the MVP honors, the league is gearing up for an even more exciting competition this year.
A Revamped Format
The tournament will commence with group-play action on November 12, culminating in the semifinals and championship games in Las Vegas on December 14 and December 17, respectively. As with the previous year, the format remains unchanged, featuring 30 NBA teams randomly assigned into six groups of five based on their records from the preceding season.
The official group draw is slated to occur this Friday. Teams will compete on designated "Cup Nights," which are scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays between November 12 and December 3. During this period, each team will face off against the other four teams in their assigned group once. This structure ensures a balanced and competitive group-play phase.
Path to the Knockout Stage
The top team from each of the six groups will advance to the knockout stage. Additionally, two "wild card" teams from each conference with the best records in group play that finished second in their groups will also advance, making a total of eight teams. The knockout stage will begin on December 10 and will follow a single-elimination format, raising the stakes for each matchup.
The semifinals will take place in Las Vegas on December 14, followed by the championship game on December 17. Both winners and runners-up will share a substantial prize money pool, adding another layer of incentive for the teams involved.
Building on Success
Last season's NBA Cup finale saw the Los Angeles Lakers dominate the Indiana Pacers with a decisive 123-109 victory. With LeBron James securing the tournament MVP, each player on the victorious Lakers team received $500,000, while Pacers players took home $200,000 as runners-up. The increased interest and competitiveness in the early part of the NBA schedule, achieved through the introduction of the NBA Cup last season, has set a strong foundation for future tournaments.
A New Look
This year, the NBA has also introduced a revamped logo for the NBA Cup. The new design includes the name of the tournament and the trophy, and also features the event's official sponsor, Emirates. The updated branding is part of the league's effort to enhance the visibility and significance of the early-season games.
The NBA is optimistic that the second iteration of the NBA Cup will build upon the successes and lessons learned from last season. By generating more excitement and significance around early-season games, the NBA Cup is poised to become an integral part of the NBA calendar, capturing the attention of fans and players alike.
As the group draw approaches and teams prepare for the commencing group-play action, basketball enthusiasts can look forward to another thrilling competition. With high stakes, substantial prize money, and a revamped format aimed at increasing competitiveness, the second NBA Cup promises to be a must-watch event for the 2023-24 NBA season.