Winning the NBA Cup won’t bring a championship parade to Oklahoma City, Houston, Atlanta, or Milwaukee. There is a trophy, some cash, and bragging rights, but not much else.
For the four teams left in the tournament, that’s enough.
The NBA Cup semifinals are on Saturday: Atlanta plays Milwaukee, and Houston faces Oklahoma City. These games will be held in Las Vegas, as will the championship game on Tuesday night.
“As a kid, you grow up, you watch Lakers versus Boston on TV. You watch Miami versus Cleveland. You watch big matchups and big games, and you dream about being there one day,” said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “To be in this position is special. You don’t take it for granted.”
For most players in these NBA Cup semifinals, this is their first time on such a big stage. Only nine players from the Hawks, Thunder, Bucks, and Rockets have ever played in the NBA Finals.
“We’re a group that’s trying to develop an identity,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “Having some success can help that.”
It’s not a huge surprise to see these teams in the final four. Oklahoma City was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs last season, and if the season ended Friday, the Thunder would hold that seed again, just ahead of No. 2 Houston. In the East, the Bucks (winners in 11 of their last 14) and Hawks (winners in seven of their last eight) are some of the hottest teams right now.
“For a lot of guys who haven’t tasted the playoffs yet, it’s the closest thing to that in terms of intensity, physicality, and having something on the line,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka about the NBA Cup. “Meaningful basketball is really good for our young guys. They haven’t had many of those games.”
The Bucks have players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton who have been to the NBA Finals and won. But reaching Las Vegas is a big achievement, even for them, considering Milwaukee started 2-8 this season.
“It’s just a lot on the line,” said Bucks guard Damian Lillard. “It requires you to focus. You’ve got to come and get the job done. So, I think in that way, it’s similar to a playoff experience, just that you’ve got to get the job done.”
For smaller-market teams, this is a chance to get more national TV coverage and possibly gain more fans. There are no Boston, New York, or Los Angeles teams in the final four.
“At the end of the day, you just want to win,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “But it’s pretty sweet to be highlighted and showcased in this way. Yeah, it’s what dreams are all about, and for them to come true is special.”
