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Ranking the new NBA Cup courts from best to worst | Sporting News United Kingdom

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Ranking the new NBA Cup courts from best to worst | Sporting News United Kingdom

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October 24, 2024February 12, 2023
Ranking the new NBA Cup courts from best to worst | Sporting News United Kingdom

Let’s talk courts, shall we?

The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. All 30 teams in the league are getting underway with the hopes of winning an NBA title in the spring. 

Well before the playoffs, however, there is another piece of hardware up for grabs — the NBA Cup championship. Last year, the league introduced the competition, which takes place during the regular season, and it’s back for this campaign.

Part of what makes the in-season tournament unique is the designs on the court that come with it. Each of the teams in the NBA sports a different court for the Cup, allowing the creativity to flow right onto the hardware. 

Which ones are slam dunks and which ones are flops? The Sporting News ranks all 30. 

POSITIONAL RANKINGS: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

Ranking the NBA Cup’s courts

1. Raptors

The Raptors are committing to the throwback look with the purple court, and it is sensational. I see that court, and I immediately think of Vince Carter dunking all over someone. It’s unique, it stands out, but it’s not completely over the top. 

2. Hornets

The dark purple and turquoise are great colors to begin with. When you add in the honeycomb design as a background, it’s chef’s kiss.

3. Timberwolves

When it comes to the green with the Timberwolves, either you love it or you hate it. I’m a big fan of the green, just because it’s a color that isn’t found often in the NBA. The forest of Minnesota in the background is a great touch. 

4. Lakers

Clean colors on the court? Check. Los Angeles skyline in the background? Check. Seventeen stars to represent their 17 championships? Check. Strong performance out of Los Angeles.

5. Knicks

Like the Lakers, when you have a top-tier color scheme, less is more. The Knicks keep it straightforward with the design this year, and the New York skyline adds to the appeal.

6. Rockets

It’s a great color scheme with a simple design, but what puts the Rockets’ court over the top is the white logo at center court. It really makes the whole court pop. 

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7. Mavericks

Noticing a trend here with the skylines? You add a cool backdrop to the court, and you get points, as is the case with the Mavericks. The American Airlines ads look out of place with the red, but a strong court here with Dallas. 

8. Cavaliers

The maroon for the Cavaliers is a great color to utilize, and Cleveland do so with different shades. While other teams have designs in the background that cross into center court, I love the fact that the Cavs left the middle alone, allowing the logo to pop. 

9. Heat

That Heat logo stands out more than others with the yellow court, but the yellow is a lot, especially for a team that doesn’t normally have it featured as prominently as it does here. But most importantly — no awkward sayings this year!

10. 76ers

I love the ring of stars surrounding the center of the court in Philadelphia. Other courts include stars, but not in that design. It takes a second to get used to the red and white logo, as opposed to the typical red and blue, but strong work for the 76ers. 

11. Suns

The Suns are higher up because they have colors that pop on the screen, but they could use more purple. But the big orange circle in the middle is a strong touch for Phoenix. Get it — because they’re the Suns?

12. Thunder

The deep blue for the Thunder is deep, but the logo at the center stands out as a result. Maybe a tinge more orange could work for Oklahoma City next time, but the design makes it hard to complain too much. 

13. Spurs

The Spurs don’t have much to work with, as the team sports basic black, grey and white. But I’m a big fan of the Lone Star State design in the background. 

14. Bulls

The Bulls leaned fully into the “See Red” slogan with red, and red, and more red on the court. But it works for Chicago.

15. Celtics

Boston is diving more and more into the black concept. I don’t hate it near the free throw lines, but the “Celtics” at the center would stand out more if it was white.  

16. Pacers

Including the “Boom Baby!” slogan on the side of the court was an excellent ode Bobby “Slick” Leonard. But was it really needed also on the court, even if it’s hidden?

17. Grizzlies

What exactly is going on behind the logo for the Grizzlies? I spent too long trying to figure out if it was a fancy way of spelling “Memphis.” 

18. Trail Blazers

Too much grey, not enough red of the Trail Blazers. However, it makes the logo at the center stand out, and the unique design in the background is subtle enough that it doesn’t get in the way. 

19. Hawks

I don’t know what to make of the yellow in the background. It’s too much, but at the same time, it allows the logo in the center to stand out more. 

T-20. Pelicans and Clippers

Did Los Angeles and New Orleans hire the same designer? I mean, the two are practically carbon copies of each other. 

I will say, I’m a fan of the red outline on either side. 

22. Magic

Too much grey from the Magic, not enough blue. Although I am a fan of the stars in the background of the court. 

23. Kings

I wish the Kings used more of the purple on the court, but it’s a straightforward concept out of Sacramento. 

24. Nuggets

In case you needed to know, the Nuggets’ Ball Arena is 5,280 feet above sea level. See, it says it right on the court!

25. Nets

The Nets own probably the blandest color scheme in the league, which makes for an unappealing court. The light blue on the “Barclays Center” on the court only makes it worse. 

26. Wizards

The ode to cherry blossoms with the colors are solid, but the hand isn’t the most compelling design, even as a nod to the logo. Is that Washington reaching for a lottery pick?

27. Warriors

The Warriors have one of the best color schemes in the league, so going with a basic grey is puzzling. And while I understand the Warriors trying to promote the new secondary logo, it’s going to take a majority of viewers a few times to figure out whose court it is.

28. Jazz

The Jazz have gone through how many colors in recent years. Yet, like the Warriors, they go with a basic grey — boring. Also I know I said I liked the Rockets for the white logo in the center, but with Utah, it looks like someone forgot to color in the note.

29. Bucks

Ah yes, because when I think of the Bucks, I think of … blue. Milwaukee continues to try and make that color apart of the team — despite the fact that blue has never been a color in its branding. Bring back the purple!

30. Pistons

Are the Pistons trying to distract the fans from what’s happening in the game by adding all of the extra junk on the court? The only explanation for the excessive amount of logos and graphics is that their designer was going through all of the options and forgot to delete the ones they weren’t going to use.