By : Fahim ‘Coach Fah’ Nassar

This 2023-2024 NBA Season, Adam Silver, and his collective, settled on a way to add spice to the regular season.

Typically, the early part of the season, from November to December there are lulls in viewership. The allure and luster of the new season starts to fade just a bit and there is still so much to watch as far as other sports wrapping up (Baseball) or beginning their new seasons (NHL), some are already in full swing (NFL).

So how does the NBA keep eyes on the product during these lean weeks?

The NBA Cup!

The NBA Cup is an in-season tournament much like the WNBA’s Commissioners’ Cup.

There will be two stages to the tournament.

First, there is Group Play – where all 30 teams have an opportunity to amass wins. There will be 4 total games played in this stage. It will be one game against each opponent in your group.

They will be divided into two at home and two on the road.

After the Group Play is completed, the next phase is the Knockout Rounds.

Eight teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds. Each team with the best stage record and two “wildcard” teams will face off. As its name implies, these are single elimination games.

The winner of the tournament gets a cash prize, (coaches too), and a new, nifty trophy!

All tournament games will be broadcast nationally. They have even spiced up the design and colors of the NBA courts to distinguish between NBA Cup games and regular season games, thought the NBA Cup games still count towards the overall record.

Tournament nights will typically be every Tuesday and Friday from November 3rd to the 28th (except Election Day where no games are played).

No other NBA games but tournament games will be played on those days.

The Quarterfinals will begin December 4th . Winners will advance to a neutral site (Las Vegas) to play the semis on December 7th and the championship game on December 9th.

There will be a Tournament MVP as well as an “All-Tournament Team” announced at conclusion of the tournament.

While this tournament seems like a nonchalant way to invigorate the fan base, there will always be those who dislike, don’t understand why, or are waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop on this, as it did with the All-Star Captains and Elam ending.

As an NBA Fan who admittedly falls in the “I pretty much just watch my team” crowd, this is awesome.

I truly enjoyed the inaugural week even though my team lost. The court colors are cool, and the idea is intriguing.

Let’s sit back and enjoy this tournament and see where this goes.

*Photos courtesy of Associated Press and Yahoo Search*