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Have there been discussions to split teams into groups based on criteria other than last year's finishing position? Right now, groups are the only and most confusing part of the tournament. I can't follow who's in whose group as opposed to say Champions League.

Any new plans for the dunk contest this year or does another team need to sign Mac McClung to save it again?

Where did the idea originate from, what are you hoping the in-season tournament will accomplish, and how will you evaluate whether it’s successful?

Would've have killed yall to give the Wizards a good court design and uniform for the tourney

What’s it gonna take for Draymond to receive a 25 game suspension? And, why is he allowed to constantly yell and argue with the refs while other players get technicals for minor things like clapping etc

Do you think that draymond and goberts cage match will be at the all star game or off season?

Can you please elaborate on the NBA’s decision to deny Boston’s request to use their classic parquet pattern for the center strip of their IST court?

do you like country fried steak?

I work as a Software Engineer. NBA analytics is my dream, and I think in general Sports is a dream for a lot of people my age. How do you get your start in the field?

Will the stats from the in-season finals game count towards players’s career/season totals?

Why put it so early into the season? Isn't there enough excitement about games when the season begins, for me it's January through February where some games can become a drag. Also would you entertain the idea of making it a single elimination tournament if the league expands to 32 teams?

Is the NBA open to tweaking the tournament format (group draws, schedule, prize/incentive structure) at all or is this the way the tournament is going to look for several years before any changes are considered?

How long has the In-Season Tournament been in the works before finally coming to fruition this season? Are there any major changes to how it works now compared to when it was pitched?

How did the movie Semi-Pro and the Flint Mega Bowl help your team create a meaningless tournament and award?

How did you get into your role working in the NBA?

How are you thinking about the tournament evolving over time?

Will there be more incentive in the future for the in season tournament

What’s the point? (Of the in-season tournament)

What is the reason for having an additional game for the final 2 teams of the tournament?

The tournament itself is only 3 rounds for 8 teams, and logically, all 8 teams could play each other like the FIBA tournament without the need for an 83rd game. What were the constraints that necessitated the additional game?

In-season tournament probably needs renamed since it starts at the beginning of the season. Seems weird.

Why not mix it up during the knockout rounds ie. West 1st vs. East 4th, etc.? Would be cool to see different matchups than the playoffs

If a player is suspended for acts committed during an in-season tournament game, for instance for five games, should the suspension count for in-season tournament games or should he be allowed to sit out regular season games and later still participate in other games that count for the tournament?

Are they any plans for more exciting name?

In-Season Tournament sounds bland and overly descriptive.

Why not use Legends name for the tournament? like Baylor Cup for example. Is it because you guys are so stingy that you lot don't want to pay royalty to retired players and their estate?

Hi Evan, what is your prediction on which team will take home the first NBA In-Season Tournament trophy?

How long has the In-Season Tournament idea been around for and what was the catalyst for implementing it this season?

why aren’t any in season tournament courts Psych themed?

Hi Evan, given the format of the tournament and how (more) appealing it is to NBA fans abroad, did you consider earlier game times for European audiences.. or even playing games in Europe or another region in future editions? If so, have there been any talks with cities/countries that you can disclose? Thanks!

Is it true this in-season tournament will be BIGGER than NBA finals in a few years???

I understand that the current method of selecting groups was to ensure the best teams are more likely to end up in the knockouts, and thus be more likely to drum up interest - but assuming the tournament is a success, do you foresee the groups being division-based in the near future? One of the things that the NBA currently lacks in comparison to other leagues is team rivalries, and I feel like the groups being the divisions (and thus the same every year) is a good opportunity to start investing in the growth of those kinds of rivalries.

If I understand it correctly, there will be "flex" games to make up the 81st and 82nd games by eliminated teams to be played on December 6th and 8th, yes? So like 11 games one night, and 13 games the other night in between the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals?

how do you get the clippers to avoid using the excuse that they didn’t care about the tourney and wanted to go home when they lose?

Will we have an In-season tournament MVP and Finals MVP?

Have there been any considerations regarding IST prizes beyond cash? Maybe some that affect the playoffs or regular season? Draft picks?

What's the point of the tournament? Why isn't it a million per player in the end? Seems like that would make it way more exciting

Were there not people pointing out how difficult the courts make it for watching the action? They're insanely distracting. On a similar note, will the nba ever get back to having the jerseys be team colors (besides for special occasions)? I don't get how it's a good thing to have a ton of random ones that don't align with the team's branding

why are we interspersing non-tournament games and tournament games on the schedule? Doesn't that kind of ruin the eventfulness? I keep looking up after games and the standings haven't changed and I'm like "oh too bad... good win but it didn't count for the tournament"

Obviously, there has been a want internally for the league to do something along the lines of the inseason tournament. But what really made the final push for the league to package it in this time? The play-ins? Other leagues like soccer/football?

Why are the courts using such harsh colors? It's distracting and harder to watch. I didn't even finish watching the highlights of the warriors/okc game.

I get the NBA trying to make the regular season more interesting but I don't see this becoming a thing. Why not focus on making the divisions relevant again. 4 divisions for 4 number 1 seeds or something. Make winning your division mean something. There can still be East and West for easier travel during regular season but that is not needed post season.

Are you a supporter of the Elam Ending? Do you think its moment has passed now that it’s out of the All Star Game?

Why are some of the courts not up to standard?

Why is it just the Final 4 playing in Vegas instead of the Final 8 (i.e. all the teams that make the knockout round)?

How much more can the NBA suck at enforcing basic rules to the game?

Will there be any future changes to the tournament to make it more exciting? Tyrese Haliburton talked about how players would take it more seriously if there were playoff implications/incentives.

The structure of an In-Season Tournament seems overly complicated, particulary the part on how the Knockout Round games in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals will count as Regular Season games for all purposes. How will this work for team scheduling purposes, and will teams end up playing more than 82 games in a season?

Why is Draymond, Green?

Hi Evan, thanks for fielding some questions. It’s cool how the NBA makes itself accessible to its fanbases.

It occurs to me that the NBA In-Season Tournament Finals will be in Las Vegas in 2023. If I were to pencil in Seattle as a destination for 2024, which locations would the NBA consider for 2025?

Would an RFP from the NBA be open to cities with teams, to other U.S. cities, Montreal, Mexico City? Should domestic fans expect this event to be as accessible to attend as All Star Weekend, such as within the U.S. or even North America? It’s a little less accessible if it’s being held in a German banking hub, for instance.