An in-season tournament is something that is happening for the first time in the NBA. Starting from 3 Nov and ending on 7 December, it will be a new experience for players as well as the fans. The winning team will get an NBA cup while each player of the winning team will receive a sum of $500,000. A total of six groups have been formed, and the tournament consists of two stages, Group Play and Knockout rounds.
NBA in season tournament explained: pic.twitter.com/FxcSTf9274
— Sammy (@xosamanthabanos) November 3, 2023
Different Groups in the In-Season Tournament
Eastern Conference
Group A
Atlanta Hawks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers
Group B
Charlotte Hornets
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
New York Knicks
Washington Wizards
Group C
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Orlando Magic
Toronto Raptors
Western Conference
Group A
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz
Group B
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
New Orleans Pelicans
Group C
Golden State Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves
Oklahoma City Thunder
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
First Game of In-Season Tournament
In the first-ever game of the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers faced each other. The Pacers won it by 121-116. Though it was just like any other NBA game still there was a new experience for the players since the uniform, and the court was new.
“It feels a little different,The court is very different. It’s a visual sensation that I’ve never experienced on a court before.” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said
Tyrese Haliburton’s suggestion for In-Season Tournament rules
Every player of the winning team is going to receive the cash prize of $500,00, but Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton believes that the winning team should be awarded direct entry to the playoffs.
“I think the greatest incentive for everybody to do it would be an automatic playoff bid,” he said. “If it was a playoff spot, I think everyone would take it very, very serious, right? I think the older teams would take it serious. But then it might … what would [the winning team] do then?” Tyrese Haliburton
