CLEVELAND — The NBA is trying something different this year. The league launched an in-season tournament, an annual competition that includes all 30 teams.

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland Cavaliers and other NBA teams got a new court for the NBA In-Season Tournament

  • Each team plays four others in their group, two on the road and two at home

  • Fans, coaches, and players weighed in on the impact of the NBA In-Season Tournament

The tournament included new courts, new jerseys and even a new atmosphere.

Mikey Pettry was playing basketball at his gym, as he does every day. He’s been playing basketball nearly his entire life and is also a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Was there for the 2016 championship,” he said. “Was it three one comeback? Yeah, crazy time.”

But he has some questions about the new tournament.

“The in-season tournament is definitely a cool concept,” he said. “I think with it being the playoffs at the end of the year every year, I think it kind of throws off the fun for that.”

Here’s how the tournament works.

Each conference is divided into three groups of five teams, and each team plays the other four teams in their group. These are regular season games, two at home and two on the road, that have been re-designated as tournament games. 

Winners from each conference and a wild card advance to a single elimination knockout round, with the final four teams playing on the big stage in Las Vegas in December. The prize? The NBA cup and a cash prize for the players.

There are special courts, and the teams wear different jerseys. At Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs defeated the Detroit Pistons and even defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the group stage. Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said his team will always play hard.

“Anytime we get an opportunity to show the pride we have and being a member of this community I think it’s great for our guys, and I think they embrace and appreciate it as well,” he said.

Bickerstaff has been coaching the Cavs since 2020 and said this tournament is a learning experience for all of them.

“Guys have to figure out what this is, and I think coaches as well,” he said.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver admitted the tournament isn’t a new concept. He said it comes from international soccer, which has seen success and viewership from in-season tournaments.

The NBA is hoping this tournament will be the extra draw it needs to pull in fans who don’t tune in until the playoffs, without adding more games to an already long season.

There are critics who say the new tournament is confusing, unnecessary or just meant to generate more money, but guys like Tristan Thompson said the in-season tournament could be good for the league.

“With the tournament, it gives guys opportunities to set goals and see where their teams at,” he said. ”It’s great for basketball. It’s great for entertainment. It’s great for business, so the NBA figured out a way to keep the game entertaining through the peak of the football season to have something to compete with them. So they’re doing a good job, I think, so far.”