[Saba Sports News] The NBA’s in-season tournament has arrived, and it has left some people, including at least one NBA player, feeling a bit perplexed.
The inaugural in-season tournament kicked off on Friday, featuring players sporting special jerseys and games played on uniquely designed hardwood courts to commemorate the occasion.
When Los Angeles Clippers guard Bones Hyland was asked about the tournament’s impact on player motivation, he candidly admitted his confusion during a Clippers press conference on Friday morning. Hyland stated, “I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I have no idea what’s happening. I don’t understand how it works. Frankly, I don’t know anything about it.”
If a player directly involved in the tournament is uncertain about its details, it’s likely that many fans tuning in on Friday share the same confusion.
However, Hyland did express excitement about the $500,000 prize money awarded to each player on the winning team. Nevertheless, he emphasized that he and his teammates prioritize victories above all else.
The in-season tournament was introduced as an initiative to generate interest in the middle of the regular NBA season. The competition divided teams into six groups of five, with the group stage commencing on Friday, followed by knockout rounds for qualified teams. Importantly, the tournament’s results count toward each team’s regular season record.
The semifinals and championship games are scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in early December.