An in-season NBA tournament appears to be looking more and more realistic.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association have renewed momentum and are actively discussing elements of a tournament, which could be added as soon as the 2022-23 or 2023-24 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The tournament would take place during the season prior to Christmas and begin with pool play as part of the regular-season schedule with the best records advancing to an eight-team, single-elimination tournament.
Such a tournament would shorten the season from 82 to 78 games, per Wojnarowski.
There are still plenty of details that need to be hashed out, but Wojnarowski added that a purse of $1 million per player has been discussed with the potential for more financial and competitive agreements to be added before a formal agreement.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has long been intrigued by the idea of an in-season tournament similar to European soccer. The NBA could benefit from lucrative television and sponsorship revenue of a tournament, which Silver believes fans and players would become enthusiastic for over time.
Per Wojnarowski, owners of larger markets have previously been hesitant for an in-season tournament because it would result in dropping two home games from the schedule, but there has been an increased confidence in recent months a deal could get done.
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