The endeavour to infuse an added layer of excitement into the regular NBA season during November and December —a long-standing goal of Commissioner Adam Silver, reached its culmination with the In-Season Tournament (IST) finals on December 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the T-Mobile Arena.
At the outset of the season, all 30 NBA franchises were grouped into six sets of five teams based on the previous year’s records for the tournament.
In a format reminiscent of European football competitions, teams engaged in a “Group Play” stage, with group winners and two “Wild Cards” progressing to the “Knockout Round,” which commenced with the quarterfinals on December 4.
Following intense competition, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers emerged as the final contenders, with the Lakers ultimately prevailing over the Pacers with a score of 123-108 courtesy of an iconic performance from power forward LeBron James (24/11), winning the inaugural IST Finals MVP.
The underlying goal of the tournament remains the creation of a formula to maintain player competitiveness and provide fans with engaging content.
The imperative to sustain fan interest was underscored by a Forbes report highlighting the declining viewership of the NBA.
The league featured 30 new court designs for the event, with home teams donning specially designed “City Edition” uniforms, all aimed at heightening intrigue for fans.
According to the Forbes report, the 2022-23 season witnessed a 6% decline in viewership for both the regular season and NBA Finals compared to 2022.
However, thanks to the introduction of the In-Season Tournament, there was an average of 1.5 million viewers per game, marking a 26% increase in games watched compared to the previous season. The NBA App and the league’s social media channels experienced their most successful November to date, amassing 3.9 billion video views.
Furthermore, there has been an uptick in physical attendance at games, with the league recording the highest ever average attendance for November at 18,206 people.
Initially viewed as an unconventional experiment by many players and fans worldwide, the In-Season Tournament now appears poised to be around for years to come, with both stars and audiences fully embracing it.
As the innovative tournament proves successful, questions arise about potential modifications to enhance its appeal and prevent fan boredom. Will cash prizes for players and coaches increase? Will the distinctive court designs remain a unique selling point? Will the title undergo a renaming akin to the Larry O’Brien trophy? Are there considerations for a schedule change? In this piece, FLOS explores possible suggestions to make the tournament rewarding for both the audience and participating athletes.
Cash prizes increase for players and coaches
The financial incentives introduced by the league undoubtedly had a significant influence on the entire tournament. The structured rewards—$500,000 for each player on the winning team, $200,000 for runners-up, $100,000 for semi-final losers, and $50,000 for quarterfinal losers—played a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of the competition.
It is a well-acknowledged reality among athletes that enhanced monetary rewards invariably lead to heightened player performance. To further elevate the competitive intensity that the In-Season Tournament can generate, the tournament’s governing body may consider augmenting the financial incentives provided to participating players. Increasing the monetary rewards could be a strategic move to foster a more tenacious and spirited level of play throughout the tournament.
Unique court design
While the overall success of the tournament received widespread acclaim, the same cannot be asserted for the courts employed during the event. Numerous complaints surfaced regarding players experiencing slips on the courts, with notable discontent expressed by Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. who voiced his frustration after a game against the Toronto Raptors, citing a near-injury incident on one of the final plays.
Beyond concerns about player safety, another issue arose in terms of the courts’ aesthetics. Certain courts, particularly those featuring vibrant reds and blues, were deemed challenging to appreciate on television. The question of whether adjustments will be implemented to enhance both the visual appeal for the audience and the playing conditions for athletes during the tournament remains open.
Renaming in the manner of the Larry O’Brien trophy?
It appears the NBA is taking a wait-and-see approach with all portions of this tournament, including the naming of the trophy.
While many expect the trophy to be renamed soon in the manner of the Larry O’Brien title, another idea the NBA could explore is selling out the naming right to a worthy sponsor, thereby generating more revenue through the In-season tournament.
Schedule Reshuffle?
In November, a rhythmic schedule emerged with tournament games taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays, effectively contributing to both promotion and exposure.
However, one aspect where the tournament fell short was the less-publicized challenges faced by the 26 teams that did not advance to the finals in Las Vegas. The last-minute addition of games to their calendars created logistical hurdles, with teams expressing dissatisfaction regarding ticket sales and travel schedules.
Finding a solution to these issues without significantly extending the gap between the end of the group stage and the start of the quarterfinals poses a challenging task.
Nonetheless, while the tournament still calls for evident modifications in certain aspects, credit must be accorded to the organizers for this innovative idea, which appears to have successfully rekindled audience interest, drawing fans back to the courts to support their favourite teams.
