Why do NBA teams have special court designs tonight?
Although they made a lot of buzz and media backlash, the colorful National Basketball Association In-Season Tournament team’s courts are here to stay.
The NBA has added a new event to its calendar called the In-Season Tournament. To help fans quickly identify which regular season games are part of the tournament standings, the home team will wear new City Edition uniforms and play on a new, brightly-colored court design in most cases. Additionally, each NBA team has an alternative court specifically for In-Season Tournament games.
The special court designs
The NBA has added a new tournament called the In-Season Tournament to its calendar. All 30 teams will participate and have been divided into six groups. Each team will play four Group Play games, one against each team in their group, on designated “Tournament Nights.” The top team in each group and the team from each conference with the best record that finishes second in its group will advance to the quarterfinals.
The new courts will be used during Group Play and the quarterfinals to show fans their In-Season Tournament games. The semifinals and championship will be played at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This is the first time all 30 teams have had an alternate court. For the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, LA Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers, it will be their first time playing on an alternate court in their franchise history. Each court has a few design details in common, including a fully painted court with no woodgrain details, NBA Cup silhouettes at both center court and in the lanes, and a 16-foot lane from end to end with a “contrasting wash of color.”