A new plan for the NBA was to hold an In-Season Tournament during the 2023–2024 season to spice things up.
The NBA has been talking about the tournament for a few years, but it’s finally happening this year. They’ll do more than just put teams in groups; they’ll also send the best teams to Las Vegas for the bracket phase.
As of Monday morning, the NBA said that each team’s court would have a new look during the playoffs. Each court was shown, and the designs didn’t look like normal hardwood. Instead, they focus on bright colors that stand out.
The Sixers will play on a red court with a dark blue stripe down the middle and white lines around the edges. The team’s 2023–2024 City Edition theme goes well with the color scheme.
There is a different 76ers badge and the In-Season Tournament trophy in the middle of the court, just like the rest of the league.
The 76ers' in-season court
A look at the Sixers’ court for the new In-Season Tournament, per NBA pic.twitter.com/bwxBohdgV9
— Justin Grasso (@JGrasso_) October 30, 2023
What Is Joel Embiid Thinking?
Most players are still getting used to the In-Season Tournament. This is a new idea that differs from the usual 82-game season with an All-Star break in the middle before the playoffs. Players like Sixers star Joel Embiid are interested but could be more excited.
“I’m not sure,” Embiid said on Monday about the event. “I think it could be good. We’ve gotten used to Larry O’Brien being the main trophy that everybody wants. It’s going to take a little adjusting to kind of figure out that something else is also as important as something, maybe as the main trophy. It’s always been about the Larry O’Brien.”
“It’s another chance to compete,” Embiid added. “It’s all about winning every single game. Not focused on the In-Season Tournament — more focused about just winning every single game — wherever that takes us based on that cup, then you have a chance to compete for more and win.”
Even if another prize comes up, players and teams won’t lose their desire to win the NBA Finals. That idea might take some of the fun out of the tournament, but Embiid and most professional players are very competitive, so it might not look like a bunch of players who are forced to play in the tournament. Instead, it might look like guys who want to win even if the stakes aren’t that high.
“I treat every game as the same — the angle is always to win — it’s nothing different,” Embiid finished. “The tournament is all about winning. Whether there’s a tournament or a regular season game, it’s still the same goal. You try to win as many games as possible, try to make the playoffs, and try to go on a run.”
Today, November 10, the 76ers played their first game in the tournament. They will be on the road against the Detroit Pistons. The new look of Philly’s court will be shown for the first time on November 14 against the Indiana Pacers.
