The NBA today unveiled the lineup of trophies for the inaugural In-Season Tournament, which continues tonight with a Quarterfinals doubleheader on TNT as the Boston Celtics visit the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Sacramento Kings host the New Orleans Pelicans at 10 p.m. ET.
Unveiled in July when the league formally announced the NBA In-Season Tournament, The NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Trophy, “The NBA Cup,” will be awarded to the inaugural champion on Dec. 9. The NBA Cup, designed by Tiffany & Co. in collaboration with artist Victor Solomon, and handcrafted at the Tiffany hollowware workshop in Cumberland, Rhode Island, includes the following design details:
• Color: The gold reinforces the connection to the NBA’s trophy offerings and symbolizes the highest level of achievement, while the black coloring is unique to the league’s trophy collection, a new addition for the In-Season Tournament.
• Material: Sterling silver trophy, coated in 24-karat gold vermeil and black ceramic.
• Measurements: 23” high, 18” prong height, 5” base height, weighing 35 lbs.
• Details:
– Eight prongs flow into the channels of the cup, inspired by the prongs of a diamond ring.
– The base, featuring net detail, is a blend of the design of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship Trophy bases.
– The underside of the trophy features the NBA In-Season Tournament event logo.
• Design Inspiration:
– One trophy – Represents the one In-Season Tournament champion.
– Three-tier base – Represents the three games that the champion must win in the In-Season Tournament Knockout Rounds.
– Eight prongs – Represents the eight teams that advance to the Knockout Rounds.
– 23” total height – Represents the inaugural year of the In-Season Tournament.
– 30 net openings on the trophy’s base – Represents the 30 NBA teams.
– 35 lbs. – Represents the three groups of five teams in each conference for Group Play in the In-Season Tournament.
The NBA In-Season Tournament MVP trophy will be awarded to the most valuable player in the In-Season Tournament. The trophy, designed by Tiffany & Co. in collaboration with artist Victor Solomon, and handcrafted at the Tiffany hollowware workshop in Cumberland, Rhode Island, includes the following details:
Color: The black and gold colors match the championship trophy, with the two stems mirroring the championship prong design.
Size: 15” high, 6.5” width, 5” ball (17.5” circumference), 8” stem, 3” base height, weighing 11.5 lbs.
Representation:
15” height – Represents 15 teams in each NBA conference.
6.5” width – Represents the six groups and five teams in each In-Season Tournament group.
3” base – Represents the three In-Season Tournament groups in each conference.
Two stems – Represents the two teams competing in the In-Season Tournament Championship Game.
Each player on the In-Season Tournament championship team will receive a medal, a custom that is typically followed across basketball tournament events. The medals, designed by Victor Solomon, include the following details:
“NBA In-Season Tournament Champions” is etched on the front of the medal, along with the year.
The back of the medal features a silhouette of the NBA Cup in the middle of two tournament brackets.
The four extruding balls on the face of the medal represent the four teams competing in the In-Season Tournament Semifinals.
Following the In-Season Tournament, a panel of media members will select an In-Season Tournament All-Tournament Team, consisting of the five most outstanding players throughout the competition. The All-Tournament Team members will receive trophies, designed by Victor Solomon, composed of a solid black crystal basketball with gold channels, one of which features a bracket motif in a nod to the In-Season Tournament. Each trophy stands 7.5” in height and weighs 20 lbs.
