Guys, be honest – what do you think about the NBA Cup? Or is it correct, of course, the Emirates NBA Cup? Yes, exactly, this new tournament that the NBA has squeezed into our calendars since last year. I admit it, as a fan I was really skeptical at launch. And I still am today. But I also see potential. Now the second season is running, and I’m still sitting on my sofa, my brow furrowed, wondering: Is this a masterpiece for more excitement in the basketball autumn or just a superfluous gimmick? Is this the spice the NBA has always lacked in the regular season, or just a desperate attempt to keep viewership up?
What is the Emirates NBA Cup anyway?
In case you’re wondering: The Emirates NBA Cup is a type of cup competition within the regular season. The league’s 30 teams will be divided into six groups based on their last year’s record. Each team plays four group games and the best teams advance to the knockout rounds. Quarterfinals, semifinals, finals – all in a compact time frame, with the big showdown in Las Vegas. The winners receive a trophy and – in addition to fame and honor – a whopping $500,000 for each player. Sounds exciting, right? But somehow I still have this feeling that it’s all artificial.
My problem: the comparison makes it difficult
Maybe it’s because of my football heart. I love the DFB Cup! Really! Even in the first round… the fans are excited because every game promises real drama (okay, not always – but often). And we all know: the cup has its own rules. If a third division team suddenly knocks out Bayern, these are the stories we’ll still be talking about years later. Or let’s take the German Basketball Bundesliga: There have been knockout rounds with exactly this “do or die” character for years. And even smaller teams have the chance to achieve great things – see this year’s thriller between the Crailsheim Merlins and ALBA Berlin…
At the Emirates NBA Cup? This always resonates with me: What is really at stake here? Sure, $500,000 sounds like a dream to us mere mortals, but let’s be honest – that’s chump change for a LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo. Please don’t misunderstand. There’s no real incentive for the stars, right? And let’s be honest: What do you prefer to remember – a highlight performance in a playoff game or some group game in an intermediate tournament? Okay, unfair question.
Can we compare the NBA Cup please?
Let’s take a closer look: Fans get excited about the DFB Cup every year because real sensations are possible. When an underdog suddenly defeats the big guys, these are stories for the ages! This is exactly the spice that the Emirates NBA Cup is missing. Why? Because in the end the teams that are already good always win. Surprises? So far in short supply. Sure, nobody had the Cavs on their list and Franz Wagner shows that he can be the leader of the Magic. But otherwise? The group stage also feels too predictable. It reminds me a lot of the new Champions League in football, even if there have been more surprises so far. Five teams per group, what feels like an eternity of games, and in the end the usual suspects qualify. Where’s the thrill in that? Or am I being too critical?
The fans’ criticism: color, relevance and identity
Then there are these playing fields. Have you seen them? Neon colors, patterns that look like someone rediscovered their 90s Windows screensaver. Sure, the NBA wanted to create something unique with its partners, but many fans (myself included) complain that these designs are more distracting than exciting.
But the biggest problem is probably the question of relevance. Why should a fan from Milwaukee, Orlando or Dallas be rooting for an NBA Cup victory when the playoffs are the only true goal in the end? Will this trophy ever have the significance it needs to really grab fans and players? Or will it all fade into insignificance at some point?
And yet: The Emirates NBA Cup has potential
But hey, maybe I’m being too harsh. The idea of giving the regular season more pizzazz is generally a good one. Let’s be honest: who hasn’t caught themselves going on autopilot from November onwards and just waiting for the playoffs? The NBA Cup brings variety – and with the first knockout rounds in December, the league actually introduced a touch of drama.
Maybe we just need more time to anchor the tournament in our minds. Maybe the league needs to tweak the adjustment screws: greater financial incentives, direct playoff qualification for the winner, or – my personal wish – an opportunity for international teams to take part. How cool would it be to see European clubs like Real Madrid, Anadolu Efes or even FC Bayern Basketball in the NBA Cup?
So, what do you think?
I’m torn. The Emirates NBA Cup is a bold step, no question. But the question remains: Is he the innovation the NBA needs, or just a pretty facade that will eventually disappear? I’ll keep watching the games because I love basketball – and because I hope that one day the tournament finds that certain something that really excites us fans.
What do you think? Is the Emirates NBA Cup your thing, or will it remain a foreign element in your calendar? And if you could make it better, how would you do it? Let me know, I’m looking forward to your opinions!
About the author
Niko Backspin is Chief Cultural Officer at Serviceplan Culture. The Hamburg hip-hop journalist is a well-known and valued figure in the international rap, breakdance and graffiti scene. With his platform Backspin, he is at home on a variety of channels – in podcasts, on YouTube, in TV reports. Niko is a long-time fan of the New York Knicks and is socially involved with the NGOs Viva con Agua and Basketball AID. You can follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn at @nikobackspin.
