Report: NBA Contemplating Adding In-Season Tournament

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the NBA is considering adding an in-season tournament as early as the 2023-24 season.

The NBA has long been viewed as one of the most progressive leagues in the world thanks to their constant innovations on and off the court to grow the game of basketball into one of the globe's most beloved sports. 

Recently the league added a play-in tournament prior to the official start of the NBA playoffs, which now looks to become a solidified part of the schedule thanks to the interest and success it has generated towards the end of the season. 

Yet The Athletic's Shams Charania reports more changes could be on the way. 

The NBA is discussing a new In-Season Tournament that would begin as soon as the 2023-24 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. With the Play-In Tournament here to stay given its success, concepts are beginning to ramp up on another competitive event.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 17, 2022

This mirrors a similar report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski earlier in December as Bleacher Report pointed out.

"Negotiations have centered on an in-season tournament that would begin with pool play as part of the regular-season schedule prior to teams with the best records advancing to an eight-team, single-elimination tournament that would culminate prior to Christmas, sources said."

Wojnarowski also said this would include a proposal to shorten the regular season to 78 games while adding, "The success of in-season tournaments in European soccer have intrigued NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who believes that players and fans would become enthusiastic over the tournament with time."

Surely the in-season tournament wouldn't be just for fun, as the league would have to massively incentivize teams and players with objectives such as bonuses, playoff seeding, homecourt advantage, etc. 

The NBA managed to hit on the play-in tournament, and their sights are set on toying with another set of brackets in the middle of the season. 

Major details are still absent on the deal, yet now it appears it's not a matter of if, but when this idea turns into reality. 

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