Jeannie Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, told Insider that the NBA has been exploring a midseason tournament as a second reward for teams to compete for.
The concept has been often discussed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and a proposed framework was reported in September.
Although the NBA concedes that it may take time for such a tournament to gain popularity, some feel it will eventually be a success.
Long-rumored and oft-discussed, the NBA midseason tournament is nearing realization.
Creating a second trophy for teams to compete for would bring more depth to the season, according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who has expressed his support for the concept.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeannie Buss agrees. Tuesday, at the Cincoro Gold launch event, Buss confirmed to Insider that the league, its owners, and its players had been contemplating a midseason tournament.
“I wish there were more trophies to award, so now we’re discussing an in-season competition in which we’ll have a championship within the championship year,” Buss remarked. “I would like to see more victories and more possibilities, similar to European football.”
Wes Edens, co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, was also present and praised the NBA’s “innovation.”
“It’s what they do well,” Edens said of the league. “They never stand still.” “If you compare what has occurred in basketball to what has occurred in baseball or golf, or how other sports have been slower to adapt, I believe basketball deserves a great deal of credit.”
Jeannie Buss.
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The Athletic’s Shams Charania speculated on a proposed tournament format for the 2023-24 season on September 9. According to Charania, the tournament games will continue through November and will count toward the usual 82-game schedule. It would finish with the final eight teams playing single-elimination games for prizes to be selected (money has often been reported as the incentive).
According to Charania, the precise specifics are still being negotiated.
Evan Wasch, senior vice president of basketball strategy and analytics for the NBA, told Insider in April that the league had yet to determine the winning rewards. Fans have discussed tying the tournament to the regular-season rankings, with Bill Simmons of The Ringer proposing this as a way to increase the incentive to win the tournament.
The league, according to Wasch, decided the midseason event had to stand on its own.
“If you’re seeking to develop long-term franchise value, it’s the kind of event that must stand on its own in terms of prestige and legacy for our teams and players,” Wasch said.
The NBA feels an in-season tournament might become a tradition in the future.
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In June, Silver told Yahoo’s Vincent Goodwill that an in-season tournament won’t be a “instant hit.” Silver acknowledged that an in-season tournament may take some time to gain popularity.
However, some league members remain optimistic about the idea. One NBA general manager told Insider that although it may take years for the tournament to gain popularity, it will eventually generate considerable fan interest and income.
“However, I believe we can build new traditions, since things certainly evolve over time,” Silver told Yahoo. Consequently, I am currently quite focused on this.