In the ever-evolving realm of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the NBA has once again proven its ability to redefine the game. This season, the NBA added an in-season tournament, reshaping the midseason landscape of the league.
The NBA is always competing with the NFL and College Football for viewers in October, November, and December. NBA commissioner Adam Silver realized he had to do something to gain back viewership and revenue and implemented a new idea to do so: the NBA In-Season Tournament (NBA IST).
The four group stage games for the teams were played on seven November dates: Nov. 3, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, and 28. The quarter-finals were played on Dec. 4 and 5 at the higher-seeded team’s location, and the semi-finals and championship game were played on Dec. 7 and 9 in Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Lakers played the New Orleans Pelicans in one semi-final matchup, and the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Indiana Pacers in the other. The Lakers beat the Pelicans 133-89, and the Pacers beat the Bucks 128-119. In the finals, the Lakers won 123-109, and LeBron James won the MVP.
The NBA In-Season Tournament was a huge success for the NBA. In past NBA seasons, the beginning of the NBA season has always been low on viewership. Now, games at the beginning of the NBA regular season actually have a purpose.
With the new NBA In-Season Tournament, NBA teams wear special jerseys and have a new court design. This change makes these games seem different from the other regular NBA season games, in a good way.
These In-Season Tournament games bring excitement and viewership to NBA games early in the season. Now, the games in November hold meaning beyond the NBA Finals.
According to Sports Business Journal, “For the complete NBA IST, games averaged 1.67 million viewers. That is up 18% over the comparable time frame last year on the national networks.”
A team like the Detroit Pistons, who currently have a 3-31 record, had a chance to play for the NBA Cup, a different name for the NBA In-Season Tournament. As the groups are randomly created, the top NBA teams, such as the Nuggets and the Bucks, do not have a guaranteed spot beyond the group stage. Knowing teams with lower records than other stronger teams could win adds a lot more excitement in these games.
The NBA IST gave a different perspective on early-season basketball. It brought back viewership and revenue for the NBA and gave the fans exciting games to watch in the beginning months of the season. The NBA IST needs to stay for the long run.
