close
close

topicnews · October 25, 2024

Ranking NBA Cup Tournament berths throughout the season from best (Raptors) to worst (Pistons)

Ranking NBA Cup Tournament berths throughout the season from best (Raptors) to worst (Pistons)

Let’s talk dishes, shall we?

The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. All 30 teams in the league enter the spring with the hope of winning an NBA title.

But long before the playoffs, there’s 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 is back this season.

Part of what makes the seasonal tournament unique is the associated on-court designs. Each team in the NBA has a different place for the Cup, so the creativity can be transferred directly to the hardware.

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

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

NBA Cup place rankings

1. Birds of prey

The Raptors are going for the retro look with the purple field, and it’s sensational. When I see this dish, I immediately think of Vince Carter showering someone. It’s unique, it stands out, but it’s not completely over the top.

2. Hornets

The dark purple and turquoise are initially great colors. When you add the honeycomb pattern as a background, it is the chef’s kiss.

3. Timberwolves

When it comes to the green for the Timberwolves, you either love it or hate it. I’m a big fan of green simply because it’s a color you don’t often see in the NBA. The Minnesota forest in the background is a great touch.

4. Lakers

Clean colors on the pitch? Check. The Los Angeles skyline in the background? Check. Seventeen stars representing their 17 championships? Check. Strong performance from Los Angeles.

5. Curtsy

Like the Lakers, when you have a top-notch color scheme, less is more. The Knicks are keeping it straight with the design this year, and the New York skyline makes the look even more attractive.

6. Rockets

It’s a great color scheme with a simple design, but what really makes the Rockets’ court stand out is the white logo on center court. It really makes the whole court pop.

SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA Scores | Updated NBA Rankings | Complete NBA schedule

7. Outsiders

Do you see a trend here with the skylines? You add a cool backdrop to the field and get points, like the Mavericks do. The American Airlines commercial looks out of place with the red, but a strong dish here with Dallas.

8. Cavaliers

The Cavaliers’ maroon is a great color, and Cleveland uses a variety of shades to match it. While other teams have designs in the background that extend to the midfield area, I like the fact that the Cavs left the middle blank so the logo can stand out.

9. Heat

The Heat logo stands out more than others with the yellow field, but the yellow is a lot, especially for a team that doesn’t typically feature it as prominently as it does here. But the most important thing: no unpleasant sayings this year!

10. 76er

I love the ring of stars that surrounds the middle of the field in Philadelphia. Other dishes contain stars, but not in this 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 sign for Phoenix. Got it – because they are the suns?

12. Thunder

The deep blue for the thunder is deep, but it makes the logo in the middle stand out. Maybe a touch more orange could suit Oklahoma City next time, but the design makes it hard to complain too much.

13. Spurs

The Spurs don’t have much to do as the team plays in the primary colors of black, gray 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 field. But it works for Chicago.

15. Celtics

Boston is becoming more and more immersed in the black concept. I don’t hate it near the free throw lines, but the “Celtics” in the middle would stand out more if they were white.

16. Pacemaker

Including the “Boom Baby!” slogan on the side of the field was an excellent ode to Bobby “Slick” Leonard. But was it really necessary? To the judgment, even if it is hidden?

17. Grizzlies

What exactly is behind the Grizzlies logo? I’ve spent too long trying to figure out if it’s a fancy spelling for “Memphis.”

18. Trailblazer

Too much gray, too little red in the Trail Blazer. However, this means that the logo stands out in the middle 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 think about the yellow in the background. This is too much, but at the same time it makes the logo stand out more in the middle.

T-20. Pelicans and Clippers

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

I have to say, I’m a fan of the red border on both sides.

22. Magic

Too much gray from Magic, not enough blue. Although I’m a fan of the stars behind the court.

23. Kings

I wish the Kings would use more purple on the court, but it’s a simple concept from Sacramento.

24. Nuggets

In case you want to know, the Nuggets’ Ball Arena is 5,280 feet above sea level. See, it’s right there on the square!

25. Nets

The Nets probably have the most boring color scheme in the league, which makes for an unattractive place. The bright blue of the “Barclays Center” on the court only makes it worse.

26. Wizard

The ode to cherry blossoms with the colors is solid, but the hand isn’t the most compelling design, even as a nod to the logo. Is Washington trying to win the lottery?

27. Warrior

The Warriors have one of the best color schemes in the league, so opting for plain gray is puzzling. And while I understand that the Warriors are trying to promote the new secondary logo, it will take the majority of viewers a few times to figure out whose pitch it is.

28.Jazz

Jazz has gone through many colors in recent years. But like the Warriors, they prefer a plain gray – boring. Also, I know I said I liked the Rockets because of the white logo in the middle, but with Utah it looks like someone forgot to color the note.

29. Dollars

Oh yeah, because when I think of the Bucks, I think of… blue. Milwaukee continues to try to highlight this color on the team – despite the fact that blue has never been a color in its branding. Bring back the purple!

30. Piston

Are the Pistons trying to distract fans from the game by putting all that extra trash on the court? The only explanation for the excessive amount of logos and graphics is that the designer went through all the options and forgot to delete the ones he didn’t want to use.

You may also like...