Last season, the NBA debuted a new format near the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, with teams around the league participating in the In-Season Tournament, now called the Emirates NBA Cup.
There was a lot of criticism about the tournament heading into the in-season competition, with many doubting whether it would be a success like it has been overseas in soccer, like the FA Cup in the English Premier League or the Champions League, which showcases the best teams across Europe, but it turned out to be quite a success, with players playing at a high level and fans being engaged.
Ultimately, the Los Angeles Lakers came out on top in the tournament, beating Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in the championship game in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This year’s NBA Cup got underway earlier this week, with a highly entertaining matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks drawing a lot of attention.
Haliburton, who is hoping to avenge last year’s loss to the Lakers, recently opened up about playing in the NBA Cup and what he thinks of the tournament while on The Pat McAfee Show.
“We love playing in the NBA Cup. I think it’s fun because you’re competing for something different in the middle of the season,” Haliburton said.
“We love playing in the NBA Cup..
I think it’s fun because you’re competing for something different in the middle of the season”@TyHaliburton22 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/geNccX9rcq
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 14, 2024
It’ll be interesting to see where the NBA Cup goes from here and whether it continues to grow in popularity and viewership, as the league wants to capitalize on this early-season success, especially with league viewership struggling right now.
As for the Pacers, it remains to be seen whether they can reclaim their form from last season, as they have struggled in the early going this season.
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