On the other hand, Summer League has really exploded in both quality and interest over the years. They should really take the cue from the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson awards and create a Nate Robinson Award. Little Nate (oh that nickname, how I hate) made the summer league what it is today.

An in season tournament that I would watch would be in January and only open to guys on rookie contracts and on their G League affiliates. I don't see a million dollar purse really motivating the half of the league already making 300k a game, whether they play or not. Give the winning team the 15th pick, or whatever it is the one immediately after the lottery.

Fans will be excited to watch a lot of the younger guys who don't make the regular rotation, players would be motivated for a purse that substantially improves their incomes, and teams would be motivated for the pick. Hold the games in Vegas, LA or some other warm weather locale and some vets would have a reason to attend. The oft- injured crowd would be excited for a two week break. I think a lot of the G League guys would be motivated to play hard with more exposure. Especially the Kevin Knoxes and Cam Red dishes of the league would like to have a chance at being the man.

You will still get guys like Zion assured of getting a huge payday dropping out, but I think a million bucks is still something Scottie Barnes and LaMelo would be interested in.

EwingsGlass wrote:I think the internal tournament is a stepping stone to international play and broadening the NBAs market. The idea of using G-League as the test for that style of play makes a lot of sense to me though. If the tournament is just to add some different intrigue to the game, I mean, I would make it more arcade style (like the all star game) and let 8 top players draft their own 10 man squads for a 3-day single elimination tournament. I'd rather watch that than the all star game.

I like this idea a lot. I think the best basketball game ever was right before Coviid with the Elohim ending. Just the 4th quarter when you had the best players in the league going all out. I don't know if they can ever capture that lightning in a bottle again.

BRIGGS wrote:I like summer league to. How about the winner of SL gets to start 2-0 and only has to play 80 games. that would make is uber competive and even mor exciting

1. Two less home dates? $$$$? I doubt that flies.
2. How many players actually are on the roster come the fall?
3. Two less dates at home, two less TV revenue games, the sponsors in the home arenas.

SL is for rooks to get acclimated, and younger players to work on next level skills and finish the summer with more work to refine it. Its a nonsensical hype which is fine, and for fans to enjoy what it is. To make it more than that is why so many funny tweets are “I will not get excited about SL”…..

Curious to see what the final product will look like. I guess its not for this coming season? So we’ll get lots of heads up.