Adam Silver’s Masterplan Works as NBA Sees 24% Surge Courtesy of In-Season Tournament

Nov 28, 2023 | 9:16 AM EST

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The NBA viewership is up in double-digits and at the helm of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the league is only getting richer. Despite some initial skepticism, the In-Season tournament has shown promising trends to become stable in the NBA calendar. The tournament was a long-time brainchild of Silver, which is seemingly different from the regular games. The idea was not to put extra games in an already long season, but rather to create more excitement and new consequences during the regular season.

This new tournament is gaining more traction while expanding the audience and pumping in more money.

Adam Silver and his plans are finally working

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According to the numbers by John Ourand of the SBJ, the viewership is up by 25% this year when compared to the five games of last year’s Friday matchups in the month of November. Viewership on ESPN averaged 1.58 million viewers in six tournament games. Overall, the NBA viewership as compared to the last season has increased by 12%.

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It’s not just the media houses that have seen the spike. The NBA league pass transactions are up by 42% as compared to last season’s sales. The ratings are going high as more and more people are paying attention to the hype surrounding IN-Season. “Fan interest is there. The intensity’s been there. The matchups have been solid. There’s been a lot of momentum that continues to build,” told an ESPN executive with the SBJ.

In-season is not different from regular games

The tournament includes an initial round which is in full swing now. Followed by a knockout round and pool play, leading to four semifinalists who compete at a neutral site in December. European soccer where teams vie for multiple cups inspires In-Season. The tournament games are part of the regular 82-game schedule, with the only exception being the championship contest.

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Sure, the race is for the NBA title and that’s the main event, but the debut month of In-Season has been solid. Silver’s master plan is working. Players are more stoked, and a trophy, along with the cash prize, is a great incentive for rookies and veterans alike. Given the initial success of the tournament, the league might also materialize a deal with Netflix next year. Netflix is reportedly interested in broadcasting live games and also making a, followed by the huge success of Drive to Survive.

What are your thoughts on the In-Season Tournament? Do you like them or are they just another unnecessary addition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.