The NBA Cup’s specifications nod to aspects of the in-season tournament, which opened last month with all 30 squads before proceeding to an eight-team knockout round, which begins Monday, and a final four in Las Vegas that starts Thursday. The trophy’s 23-inch height matches 2023, the opening year of the event, while the trophy’s 35-pound weight nods to the opening format, which divided the 15 teams from each conference into three groups of five. The 30 net openings on the base represent the NBA’s 30 teams, the eight rising prongs reflect the eight teams that advanced to the knockout round, and the base’s three tiers represent the three consecutive elimination games that the champion must win.
Unlike the Larry O’Brien Trophy, which is awarded to the NBA champion, and the major end-of-season awards, such as MVP and defensive player of the year, the NBA Cup doesn’t yet bear the name of a famous basketball figure. However, the NBA Cup’s gold color was selected to match the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy and the Michael Jordan MVP trophy.
The NBA also unveiled its in-season tournament MVP trophy, which features a minimalist basketball design atop two golden stems that rise from a black base. The trophy is 15 inches tall to reflect the 15 teams in each conference and boasts a 6½-inch-wide base to reflect the six groups of five teams in the tournament. The two stems symbolize the two teams that will advance to Saturday’s title game.
Though the in-season tournament’s winning team will not get any competitive incentive, such as a guaranteed playoff spot or an extra draft pick, each player will receive a $500,000 bonus and a medal that reflects the achievement. The front of each medal features four lifted basketballs in reference to the four teams that will compete in Las Vegas, and the back bears a bracket design and the NBA Cup’s silhouette.
Finally, media members will vote to determine the five players selected to the all-tournament team. Each player will receive a 20-pound black crystal basketball with gold lines and a bracket design. The NBA hopes that recognizing the winning team and standout players will stoke competition and build a tradition around the event, which draws inspiration from cup competitions in soccer.
The NBA Cup’s design was unveiled in July at a Las Vegas ceremony attended by Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr, San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and other stars, and the trophy design appeared at center court and in the paint on the colorful courts used during the in-season tournament’s group-stage games.
The eight-team field for the knockout round features the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks from the Eastern Conference and the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings from the Western Conference. On Monday, the Pacers will host the Celtics and the Kings will host the Pelicans, followed by the Bucks hosting the Knicks and the Lakers hosting the Suns on Tuesday. The winners advance to Thursday’s semifinals in Las Vegas, where the East semifinalists will play the West semifinalists to guarantee an East-vs.-West matchup in Saturday’s championship game.
