The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament was a topic of discussion among basketball fans last season. In its second year of existence, the tournament has been rebranded as the Emirates NBA Cup after the league announced a new multiyear deal with the airline company earlier this year.
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This year’s tournament officially tips off Tuesday, and group play — called “Cup Nights” — will run every Tuesday and Friday until Dec. 3. Quarterfinal action will take place Dec. 10 and 11, with semifinal matchups Dec. 14. The championship game will be played Dec. 17.
The pre-tournament skepticism from last year was answered with decent basketball games in a month’s span, decent viewership numbers and an interest in the 2024 version of the event. The tournament also introduced fans to new court designs with a variety of colors and details. This year’s courts are designed by renowned artist Victor Solomon.
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The Athletic’s Jason Jones, Josh Robbins and Jay King compiled their own ranking using a scoring system in which 30 points were given to their favorite court and 1 point was given to their least favorite. (This explains the numbers in parentheses next to each writer’s name below.)
Where did each court rank? Have a look below, as the rankings start from the bottom to the top. Feel free to offer your thoughts on the rankings — and tell us about your favorite courts — in the comments section.
(All images are courtesy of the NBA)
Jones (8): It’s a big bird. A very big bird. There was no way to work Bourbon Street into this?
Robbins (2): The Pelicans team name is a good one. There’s untapped potential there. I even like the logo, but not so much that it should be repeated on the majority of the court surface. (By the way, while I have this platform, may I please suggest that someone redesign the mascot, Pierre? He needs a better outfit.)
King (2): The Pelicans get points for turning away from the weird colors they used last season. This color scheme works much better. I don’t know why the logo on the bottom sideline is tiny, though.
King (12): The colors are carrying a heavy load, because the rest of this design is just trying to annoy me. But the colors work.
Jones (7): A triangular basketball taking over the floor is different, but it’s not my thing.
Robbins (1): One of the league’s best in-arena, game-night atmospheres deserves a better court than this.
Robbins (14): I don’t like red courts, so I’m surprised I have this one this somewhat high on my rankings. But, I think it’s deserved. The Rockets published a photo of the court, and this is an example of how a court can look nicer in person than in a graphic. The lines remind me of shooting stars or rocket smoke trails, and I think that’s appropriate with NASA’s ties to Houston.
King (5): Most teams got the memo that the red courts were unwatchable last season. The Rockets must have missed it.
Jones (4): I’m not sure what’s going on here.
Jones (16): There is a lot going on, maybe too much going on. I had to tilt my head to make sure I didn’t miss all the court artwork. But there will be no confusion: This is Detroit’s court.
King (6): Does anyone have Advil? I need some after looking at everything on that court. I just don’t know why it was deemed wise to include six basketballs with Detroit logos scattered across the court.
Robbins (3): The area beyond the sidelines and baselines is top notch. But that’s a busy floor. I’ll go a step further: This is a mishmash that doesn’t work.
Jones (11): I was expecting a big Clipper ship on the floor. Going with “Clippers” across the floor isn’t a bad idea. The color combination makes me think of their old home, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
King (10): I like the colors. I like the logo. They didn’t try to do too much here. I’ll give it a thumbs up.
Robbins (5): This is OK. I like the Clippers’ relatively recent rebrand, but for some reason, this feels like a missed opportunity.
King (13): Nothing beats that Bulls logo, but the “See Red” message just feels ominous with this Chicago roster in its current position.
Jones (10): Doubling down on the Bulls logo on the floor isn’t a wild idea.
Robbins (4): I love the logo. It’s the best in the league. But this court is too red. Sometimes, less is more. A suggestion: Is there some way to incorporate Benny the Bull into next year’s court? He’s the league’s best mascot, in my opinion.
Jones (13): A spur in the middle of Texas just feels out of place. It probably looks better on a T-shirt.
King (9): Assuming they wanted to avoid the fun colors they used last season, they were limited by the boring franchise colors. They made the best of it, though.
Robbins (8): The design in the middle of the court detracts from the vibe. It’s too busy, too asymmetrical.
King (17): I feel nothing. They tried to overcome a severe lack of colors by throwing a pattern out there, but it didn’t help much.
Robbins (16): Since they moved to Brooklyn, the Nets have deserved props for their one-of-a-kind herringbone court design. Here, they’re doubling down on it. That would be fine, but the pattern is a bit distracting. I do love the white squares at the bottom of the court. They remind me of the tiling within the New York subway system, and that’s something nice to lean into. (The arena sits atop a subway stop.)
Jones (2): Brooklyn’s standard uniforms being black and white doesn’t leave much room for creativity. This is kind of “meh.”
Robbins (25): It took me some time to warm up to the “MEM” pattern here. But now that I get it, it works for me. I like the color scheme. The grizzly logo is one of the NBA’s low-key better logos, and it works well here. The graphic above doesn’t show it, but the court also will include a “JW” insignia to honor former Grizzlies executive Jerry West. Extra points for that.
King (8): The grizzly logo works. The colors are pleasing. The “MEM” pattern just doesn’t do it for me.
Jones (3): The pattern in the background and courtside is weird to me. Reminds me of the kind of collars that used to be on shirts that were in style in the 1990s. Yes, I’m dating myself.
King (21): I don’t know when (or why) “Let Em Know” became the Cleveland motto, but it fits better now with the Cavaliers apparently ready to become a viable championship contender. The shades of maroon aren’t inviting, though. It also bothers me that they included a period after “Let Em know.”
Jones (9): What are the Cavs going to “Let Em Know” this season? They’re off to a good start, so that slogan hits right. The court itself? Are those just two big nets?
Robbins (9): I don’t mind the “Let Em Know” slogan. I do mind a red court for the most part. It’s too much on TV.
Robbins (29): This is a gargantuan upgrade over what the Heat employed last season for In-Season Tournament play. This is clean, and it’s not going to distract fans from the game itself.
King (7): I’m just glad the Heat changed their color scheme. Their court was disturbing last season.
Jones (6): The “flame” look on the court feels as if it’s part of an Olympic logo. Obviously, it is the top of the Heat logo, but without the basketball, it could be anything — even the hair of an anime character.
King (25): I wanted to hate this at first glance. That logo indicates I should be watching Jayden Daniels, not Stephen Curry. But after second glance, I’m OK with the Warriors’ stealing the Washington Commanders’ swag. The logo, which doubles as a hoop and net, is meant for basketball.
Robbins (18): Now that it’s been noted how the “W” resembles the Commanders’ logo, I can’t unsee it. That said, this is a no-frills design that, again, should keep fans’ focus on the game itself.
Jones (1): This is too boring for me. Going with a basic “W” is actually an “L.”
Robbins (20): The range of Phoenix Suns colors adjacent to the sideline is a super-cool touch. For me, that goes a long way. I like how the in-bounds area of the court is not too distracting.
King (20): Whoever thought of the color band at the bottom deserves a raise. That’s the best detail on any of these courts.
Jones (5): The coolest part is the kaleidoscope of colors on the sideline. Otherwise, it’s just the airport code for Phoenix.
Jones (25): Nostalgia wins again. The Wizards had one of the coolest logos when they were the Bullets and had the two hands on the Ls going for the basketball. This makes me think of that. I like the pink floor, too. It’s a nod to the cherry blossoms in the area.
King (14): The colors are peaceful. The nod to the Bullets logo is nice. I can dig it.
Robbins (6): Incorporating Washington’s beloved cherry blossoms into the Wizards’ uniforms was an inspired idea. They’re a nice touch, and I think the team would serve itself well by revisiting them. But on a court? It doesn’t work for me, especially in the autumn. If the NBA Cup was held in the spring, then this would be a home run. I do love the outstretched arm (from the old Bullets logo).
Jones (20): A patriotic look, as expected, from the 76ers. It’s a safe approach that works.
King (15): I don’t have strong feelings either way. This isn’t the riskiest court, at all, but it’s fine.
Robbins (11): “Safe” is the right word for this.
Jones (24): The Jazz went with mountains, which Denver passed on. I still can’t get over the Jazz court looking like the team is the cousin of the Las Vegas Raiders with those colors, but the skyline will always be good.
Robbins (19): This is close to dullsville, but it’s a generally well-executed dullsville. The mountain range design is nice. I don’t like how the note at center court is all white, because it sticks out like a sore thumb. That’s a shame, because the note logo is one of the NBA’s best logos.
King (3): Throw some color in there, guys. Please.
Robbins (23): Purple should not be the dominant color on a court surface, but this design makes sense (other than the zigzags, that is). It’s a nice callback to the Raptors’ early years. And if the “We the North” slogan doesn’t hit home, then the latitude signaling in the court’s lower-right corner should provide the gist.
Jones (21): I know this isn’t the intent … but the zigzags going across the court and its being purple remind me of a tribute to Prince.
King (4): Too much purple. Too many weird lightning bolts. The “We the North” motto is growing old, too. Do better, Toronto. You could have incorporated all types of cool dinosaur stuff, yet you chose this instead.
13. Charlotte Hornets (50)
Jones (22): I’m a fan of all things teal. Blame it on my growing up in the 1990s when the Hornets Starter jacket was a must-have. The hive court is a good look.
King (16): This court brings back memories of Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn living in transition while thumping the Miami Heat in the 2001 first round. That’s a good thing.
Robbins (12): Teal’s OK, but the honeycomb pattern is too busy for my taste.
King (28): Am I confused by this? Absolutely. Do I hate it? Absolutely not.
Jones (14): If I had to draw a crown and mix it with “The Twilight Zone,” this is what I’d imagine it looking like. It feels like the floor is trying to hypnotize me.
Robbins (10): I want to love this court. Sacramento has always had one of the best arena atmospheres in the NBA, if not the best. Opposing players will tell you the Kings play in one of the loudest arenas, and I like the Golden 1 Center’s design. So, it’s a shame this court doesn’t rise to the crowd’s level or the arena’s level. The pattern is way too distracting.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (53)
Jones (28): This is very earthy. The green makes me think of Earth Day and gives me the urge to recycle. I like the trees, too.
Robbins (24): The artist and the Timberwolves took a risk here — a heavy use of green. But you know what? I think this works! I like the forest theme so much that I kinda think I could run into a real-life timber wolf.
King (1): This court reminds me way too much of my 7-month-old son’s bowel movements.
King (24): The Pacers used their court to pay homage to a franchise legend. Huge points go to Indiana there.
Jones (23): I’m a sucker for nostalgia, so looking up why “Boom Baby” is on the court was the move for me. The connection to the late commentator Bobby “Slick” Leonard makes the court true to the Pacers.
Robbins (7): I love the reference to Slick Leonard. Almost anything that celebrates a team’s history earns high marks on its own. That said, I’m not a fan of the court design. It’s too dark blue. This is a shame because Gainbridge Fieldhouse is one of the architectural jewels of the league.
King (23): The Celtics will be pleased they were able to incorporate the parquet floor this season. With that touch, along with nods to Bill Russell and Red Auerbach, this court embraces history. It would be ranked higher for me if it didn’t make me feel like I’m staring at a green volleyball.
Jones (19): Having different shades of green parquet is different. I can’t hate on the nod to Bill Russell with the “6” on the sideline.
Robbins (15): I like how the Celtics went heavy on the parquet theme, but this is a lot of green. You’ll see that, for the most part, I favor lighter colors within the boundaries because I think lighter colors make for a better viewing experience. I love the nod to Mr. Russell, though.
Robbins (28): Clean, clean, clean. That’s what this court is. Look, I understand — and agree with — the NBA’s desire to differentiate these courts from “regular” regular-season courts. Gotta signal to fans these games are different, right? At the same time, the court surfaces shouldn’t distract fans (including the ones watching on TV) from the real stars of the show: the players and the game itself. This court won’t distract the fans.
King (18): It’s not the most daring court. Muted colors. A simple message on the sideline. The letters “ATL” across the entire court. I don’t hate it.
Jones (12): It doesn’t look too different from any other court, except for the trophies. And it took me a minute to realize “ATL” is on the court.
King (27): Yes, yes, yes. I love the colors. The antlers on the court are a nice touch without being overwhelming visually. Everything is on the “Fear the Deer” theme. This is one of my favorites.
Jones (18): The antlers are going to get you at half court!
Robbins (13): “Fear the Deer” is an awesome slogan. I’m glad the Bucks lean into it. That said, I’m generally not a fan of blue courts any more than I’m a fan of blue football fields (sorry, Boise State).
Jones (30): Nice job of incorporating the Dallas skyline. Definitely gives it a unique look. I didn’t have to guess what story was being told.
Robbins (22): I like the skyline here. I don’t like the double shoutout to the websites.
King (11): The colors work. The skyline doesn’t bother me. Including two different website URLs on a single baseline is just overkill. Not everything needs to be considered an opportunity to drive web traffic.
Jones (27): The big city of dreams on a court. Did I mention I love skylines on courts? This works.
King (19): I’m into it. The logo is classic. The colors and skyline are tastefully done. The font used for “New York Knicks” on the baselines feels a little small, but I’m just nitpicking, really.
Robbins (17): This is nice. The Knicks should emphasize the Manhattan skyline, and they’ve rendered it well.
3. (tie) Denver Nuggets (70)
Robbins (27): Another not-too-distracting court. I love how the Nuggets lean into Denver’s elevation within Ball Arena. When opposing teams get off their buses, they quickly are reminded that they’re playing at 5,280 feet. It’s a psychological tactic. Here, the Nuggets are tripling down.
King (26): Congratulations to the dummies, including myself. When the Nuggets used “5280” as the center court logo last season, I had no idea what the number symbolized. It didn’t strike me that it stood for the number of feet in a mile. This time, the Nuggets spelled it out for us. That said, I prefer this midcourt logo. This is the most improved court.
Jones (17): It would have been easy to go with mountains on the court. I think I would have liked that more than “Mile High City.”
King (29): At about 7 years old, I had a Magic hat with a splashed paint logo. Show me one of those old stars and I become a kid again. I still wish Shaq and Penny stayed together, but at least this court can give me memories of them.
Robbins (26): Stars have been a part of the Magic’s logos forever, especially during the franchise’s first two decades. I like the callback to history. The court is a bit busy, but at least the busyness has some order to it.
Jones (15): I know stars are a big part of the Magic. This, however, looks like someone cropped part of the American flag and made it gray.
King (30): It looks like the inside lining of a jacket — and it would make a beautiful jacket.
Jones (26): This is nice. Imagine having on a velvet sports coat and the lining of the coat looks like the court. You’d have to coordinate and make it work with the entire outfit.
Robbins (21): I love that the Blazers are telling a story here. Portland is “The City of Roses” or “Rose City.” That’s a super-cool nickname, and the team is right to lean into it. Extra points for the thorny vine encircling the motto at the bottom of the court. I have a question, though: Will the court design be too busy for fans inside the arena or fans watching on TV or mobile device?
Robbins (30): This design is the gold standard. Clean. Where it is busy — with the skyline — it captures some essence of the city. Props, also, to the Lakers for leaning into their history with the stars and their championship years. If you’ve got all of those titles, flaunt ’em.
Jones (29): Yay to city skylines! Palm trees and L.A. are synonymous. Of course, the Lakers had to flex with their championships on the sideline.
King (22): The Cavaliers wrote “Let Em Know” on their court. The Lakers simply let everyone know with 17 stars, one for each championship in franchise history. The latter approach plays better.
(Top illustration courtesy of the NBA)