Players won’t be the only ones benefiting financially from the new NBA In-Season Tournament.
NBA coaches will have a financial prize pool that will pay them based on how far their teams advance in the new tournament, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The head coach of the winning team will reportedly receive $500,000 in winnings, the runner-up will earn $200,000, semifinalists will make $100,000, and quarterfinalists will take home $50,000. That structure mimics the one for the players, who will compete for their share of an $18 million prize pool.
Assistant coaches will have a prize pool that will pay them 75% of what their head coaches earn.
The inaugural In-Season Tournament tips off Friday night with seven group-stage games, including the tournament co-favorite Milwaukee Bucks (+900) taking on the New York Knicks from Fiserv Forum. It will mark the debut of courts and jerseys designed for the tournament.
Other co-favorite, the Boston Celtics (+900), begin their campaign the following Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. IST games will largely be played on Fridays and Tuesdays in the first season.
The new offering is already driving ticket sales for the league.
