It was well past midnight on the East Coast, and the Lakers were playing the Suns in the first week of December. With the Lakers leading 102-101 with just 29 seconds left, Austin Reaves hit a step-back three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 105-101 lead and sent Crypto Arena into a frenzy.
This, of course, was not a playoff game. Sure, Kevin Durant was in town, but the energy throughout the game resembled that of an elimination game. Durant and LeBron put on a show, and the crowd reacted to every bucket with a do-or-die type of urgency.
This is the magic of the In-Season Tournament (IST). When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver first proposed this idea, it felt gimmicky and silly, a meaningless tournament that would flop and garner little interest. Fans and media outlets ridiculed the idea until the games started.
Suddenly, teams that would normally be coasting in December, or players taking time off, were fully engaged. The level of basketball rose significantly, with teams playing playoff-level basketball in December. Fans started seeing their star players care again, bringing an energy usually reserved for the postseason.
Another interesting aspect was the $500K grand prize for each player. For many NBA players with multi-million-dollar contracts well north of $100 million, $500K might seem like pocket change. Yet, for many rookies making minimum salaries, it could amount to almost half of their paycheck.
Veterans like LeBron James played in playoff mode in large part so that some of his teammates without the financial security of life-changing contracts could win the $500K prize money.
As the Lakers and Pacers met on December 9th in Vegas for the IST championship, LeBron James and the Lakers appeared as focused as if they were playing a Game Seven in a playoff series. When reporter Malika Andrews asked LeBron after the Lakers’ victory why he had played so hard, LeBron emphasized not just the financial but also the competitive opportunities that the IST presented:
“Because my young guys, my rookies, and second-year players have never experienced playoff basketball, and some of their paychecks are not as robust as those of the older guys on our team. Also, some of our fans during the December and January months tend to lose interest a bit, and I felt it was my obligation and responsibility to keep everyone engaged, including my teammates and fans.”
The rookies and young players from teams like the Bucks, Heat, Lakers, Pacers, and Pelicans all got a taste of what “playoff-level” basketball looks like. They experienced something in December they wouldn’t otherwise experience unless they were playing in late April or May. For many of these teams that will not make the playoffs, having their young players get meaningful minutes in a playoff-like atmosphere will pay dividends down the line.
Then there are small market teams that barely get any national attention. During the IST, most NBA fan bases witnessed the greatness of Jamie Jaquez Jr. Many have heard of Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama but might have overlooked how well Jaquez Jr. was playing. The Pacers, who have a budding superstar in Tyrese Haliburton, also benefitted. Before the final, Haliburton was averaging 28 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 50.5% FG in the IST. Small market teams and their stars also emerged as winners, gaining exposure and showcasing their skills and talent.
In the end, the NBA is the big winner. The quality of the games was elevated, and the excitement in arenas mirrored that of the playoffs. Superstars played hard for their teams, and young players gained experience in playoff-like basketball, while small market teams enjoyed prime-time slots. Adam Silver’s once deemed silly idea turned into a grand slam for the league.”
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