The NBA is heading to Las Vegas this week for the inaugural In-Season Tournament, with T-Mobile Arena set to host the Semifinals and Championship games.
The East and West semifinal games are scheduled for Thursday, December 7, and the championship game will take place on Saturday, December 9. The participating teams will be determined through quarterfinals games held earlier in the week.
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In the upcoming matchups, the Sacramento Kings will face the Pelicans, the Indiana Pacers will take on the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers will play against the Phoenix Suns, and the Milwaukee Bucks will go head-to-head with the New York Knicks.
As part of the championship, teams will compete for The NBA Cup, an exquisite trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. Crafted from sterling silver and coated in 24-karat gold vermeil and black ceramic, the trophy weighs approximately 35 pounds.
Its design features eight prongs inspired by the prongs of a diamond ring flowing into the cup’s channels. The base is a fusion of the Eastern and Western Conference Championship Trophy bases.
Standing at 23 inches tall, the trophy symbolizes the inaugural year of the In-Season Tournament, with 30 net openings on the base representing all 30 NBA teams.
The In-Season Tournament MVP Trophy will be presented to the most valuable player, standing at a height of 15 inches. This distinctive trophy symbolizes the 15 teams in each NBA conference.
Notably, it features two stems representing the two teams contending in the championship game. Every player on the championship-winning team will be awarded a medal designed by Victor Solomon.
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These medals showcase the year of the tournament and “NBA In-Season Tournament Champions” on the front. Additionally, five players will be chosen for the All-Tournament Team, receiving a solid black crystal basketball with gold channels.
One of these trophies boasts a bracket motif, and each stands at approximately 7.5 inches tall, weighing 20 pounds.
Players will earn prize money based on how far their teams advance in the In-Season Tournament, per the collective bargaining agreement. Each player on the eight teams that have advanced to the quarterfinals will receive at least $50,000.
Players will also be eligible to win the In-Season Tournament MVP award and make the All-Tournament Team.
Payouts also extend to each coaching staff. The head coaches receive the same amount as the players do, and assistant coaches receive an additional share of the pool money, equaling 75 percent of the head coach’s total payout.
For fans attending the tournament, Toshiba Plaza will host various activities. The back of the medal highlights a silhouette of the NBA Cup, positioned between two tournament brackets.
The four balls featured on the medal’s face represent the four teams contending in the Semifinals in Las Vegas.
Fans with tickets can enjoy an immersive experience featuring a larger-than-life NBA Cup trophy, exclusive merchandise, and live tournament-style basketball games from noon to 8 p.m. on both December 7 and December 9.
Adding to the excitement, musical performances by Nelly and TLC are scheduled in between the two Semifinals games on December 7.
The two artists will engage in a head-to-head singing battle as part of the new reality competition called “The Sum: All-Star Music Battle.”
For those eager to be part of the musical action, fans can apply for a chance to sing alongside TLC or Nelly. It’s important to note that participants must be at least 18 years old to take the stage, as per event organizers’ guidelines.
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