The National Basketball Association (NBA) added a new in-season tournament to the regular season, bringing more engagement from players and fans.
The NBA is back in full swing, and with it comes the new in-season tournament. Starting on Nov. 3, the tournament began with teams playing their first of four “group play” games. These games are used to decide who advances to the next round. After the Group Play games are played, eight teams will advance to the “knockout rounds,” where single elimination is at play. This high stakes round decides who plays in the Championship on Dec. 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
If one thing is certain, commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA always look for ways to expand their brand. This season, the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland are playing a regular season game in Paris as a way to gain a following beyond the United States. With the tournament beginning just weeks into the regular season, fans are peaking with engagement, with all teams still having nearly the whole season to make a playoff run. Giving fans a tournament this early in the season adds a layer of competitiveness never seen before in November games.
Most fans are usually anticipating the start of the playoffs. By adding this tournament during that time period, it could fill the void of entertainment in the later part of the regular season.
For players, the tournament is a harmless addition to their schedule. All games besides the championship are built into the league’s 82 game regular season. This means that the games will also count for their regular season, making the tournament games equally important as the rest. There are money prizes for teams, with every player on the championship team getting $500,000 and losers getting $200,000. The losing teams in the semifinals will get $100,000 and the losers of the quarterfinals will get $50,000.
This bonus is a substantial amount of money for some players compared to their salary. The minimum salary this season is $1.1 million, and most rookies make a few million dollars per season. Bonuses of this size give young players and overlooked veterans a chance to fight for not only a trophy, but more money.
Money is great, but so are trophies in the accolade-driven league. NBA players always look to add accomplishments to their resumes, and fans always compare their accomplishments in the infamous MVP and G.O.A.T. debates.
I think the tournament is a simple way for the league to create more buzz with fan bases in the regular season. Although, it would be a good idea to have this tournament during the stale part of the season that occurs after the trade deadline and before the playoffs. Many teams are essentially out of playoff contention at that time of the season, and trade rumors are halted.
Most fans are usually anticipating the start of the playoffs. By adding this tournament during that time period, it could fill the void of entertainment in the later part of the regular season. In addition, the league can use this tournament to test the market in Las Vegas. The NBA has been looking to add expansion teams in the near future, and Las Vegas has been one of the suggested locations.
Overall, the tournament gives players and fans a new and exciting experience. Surely, the tournament will have some flaws, but the league plans on using it each season and improving it over time, just like they have done in the past with other events. When it comes to the NBA, they are not always perfect, but perfection is what they strive for.
lrapp@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @NBA, X
