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While some basketball fans were initially confused about the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, the league experiment is a massive success thus far.
Some standout performers have already separated themselves as potential MVP candidates during group play of the tournament. As we head into the quarterfinals, teams are one step closer to becoming the inaugural champions of the NBA Cup.
Here are some key details you should know about the actual trophy they will receive, per NBA.com:
- The cup was designed by Tiffany & Co. in collaboration with artist Victor Solomon. It was crafted at the Tiffany hollowware workshop in Rhode Island.
- The base of the cup has 30 openings in the net to represent all of the teams in the league.
- The base has three tiers, which represent how many games each team must win during the knockout rounds to win the tournament.
- Eight prongs flow into the channels of the ball, which symbolize the eight teams that made the knockout rounds of the tournament. These are inspired by the prongs of a diamond ring.
- The trophy is 23 inches tall, which is a tribute to the inaugural year of the tournament.
- The trophy is five inches wide because there were five teams in each group during the seeding games.
- The trophy, which weighs 35 pounds, is coated in 24-karat gold vermeil and black ceramic. The weight represents the three groups of five teams in each conference during group play.
This is a beautiful trophy and the attention to detail is fascinating.
NBA Cup MVP?
In case you missed it last week, we took a look at the 14 candidates most likely to win the MVP of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum is currently considered the favorite to take home the trophy. Based on play during the seeding games during group play, however, the best players to advance to the knockout rounds included Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Kevin Durant as well as Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton is an interesting choice as well if he is healthy. So, too, are Lakers teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Shootaround
— Short Kings, rejoice! HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina ranked the greatest players in NBA history who are 6-foot-and-under.
— LeBron James coyly said the heated exchange that led to Ime Udoka’s ejection was about Thanksgiving. Prince Grimes has more.
— It’s becoming clear what the Lakers’ biggest weakness is this season, per LeBron Wire’s Robert Marvi.
— HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto spoke to Gordon Hayward about LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams and more.