‘Ugliest ever’: Fans erupt over bizarre sight in NBA’s new in-season tournament

The NBA’s latest innovation has created a bold new sight that has prompted a wild reaction from basketball fans in utter disbelief.

The NBA in-season tournament courts are very bold.

The NBA looks a little different this weekend and basketball fans don’t quite know what to make of it.

As part of NBA CEO Adam Silver’s plan to maintain interest in the league’s 82-game season, he has introduced another innovation called the in-season tournament.

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Casual basketball fans have long said they don’t start watching the NBA season until Christmas or the All Star break in February as the run to the playoffs ramps up and games start to matter more.

Silver’s latest innovation is the NBA in-season tournament, which began on Saturday (AEDT).

What is the NBA in-season tournament format?

The Eastern and Western Conference are split into three groups of five teams.

Each team will play one game against each opposing team in their group (four games total) on “Tournament Nights” that will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays through November. Every team will play two games at home and two games on the road.

These initial games are part of the regular season schedule.

The six group winners automatically advance along with two wildcards, heading to Las Vegas for the knockout rounds.

The NBA in-season tournament championship game takes place on December 9.

Denver’s court has a big strip down the middle. Photo: C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images/AFP.

Chicago’s court for the in-season tournament. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Catching the eye of fans were the custom court designs used for in-season tournament games, featuring a colourful strip running from end to end with the tournament trophy in the centre of the court.

The particularly bold court bright blue and yellow design for the Indiana Paces’ home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers took viewers by surprise, and let’s just say the reaction was mixed.

This is certainly the ugliest NBA court ever. pic.twitter.com/llb7gQHBHU

— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) November 4, 2023

Thoughts on this court?

(h/t @TrashTalk_fr) pic.twitter.com/NwpUDIP4rC

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 3, 2023

This is insane. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/5ZtBwlE5wt

— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) November 3, 2023

The Bulls court is hurting my eyes 🫣 pic.twitter.com/o16cORHZgz

— NBAĆentel (@TheNBACentel) November 4, 2023

These full-colour NBA tournament courts would never work in Aus ⛸️

— Matthew Adekponya (@adekponya_) November 4, 2023

Pick and Roll’s Ben Mallis said on X: “These courts are an abomination and look more like Space Jam than an elite sport.

“The NBA would generate more interest with the in-season tournament if they stopped shoving gimmicks down our throat and leveraged their actual traditions.”

Others were confused why the in-season tournament was being held so early in the season, which began in late October.

Wait, so the NBA in-season tournament is on during the start of the season when things are still fresh and exciting?

Wouldn’t you do it closer to the middle of the season?

— Full Court Fitness (@AdamWesterhout) November 3, 2023

Bleacher Report’s Molly Morrison said: “I’ve definitely come around to idea of trying out an in-season tournament, but why are they having it so early in the season? it’s literally hasn’t even been 2 weeks.”

Despite a USD $500,000 prize for each winning player and a huge PR push from the NBA, there’s scepticism the In-Season Tournament will be embraced by players and fans as anything more than a gimmick.

“Whoever ends up winning the In-Season Tournament is probably the team with the most amount of sickos on their team. I mean that,” former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick said.

“Like, you don’t need to give Chris Paul a reason to be competitive. He wakes up that way.

“Some teams and some players are just wired that way. There’s a purpose to everything they do.

“The NBA weeds out the non-competitive people very quickly. And I think this is another opportunity for the competitive people to rise to the top.”

The NBA’s In-season tournament is underway. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The NBA is trying to crack down on star players sitting out games in the name of ‘load management’ and it’s no coincidence a new media and TV rights deal is on the horizon.

“Some of these directives — I don’t want to get into the management issue. This is not coming from the players. So, I’ll say that,” Redick said.

“Now let’s talk about what the In-Season Tournament is. You’re giving someone another — you’re giving a sicko another reason, another incentive, another accomplishment, another trophy, like ‘I can go get that?’ Okay.

“I will say this: I’ve been out of the league three years. This is the most excited I’ve been for a regular season, period, an NBA season, period.”

The league will hope the in season tournament is as successful as the play in tournament introduced in 2021, where teams ranked seventh to 10th in each conference battle it out for the last two remaining spots in the playoffs.

Time will tell if Silver’s latest thought bubble is a success.

— With NY Post