The 2024 Emirates NBA Cup is here and that means the return of one of last season’s more divisive additions: the courts.
They are stylized. They are loud. They all feature concentric circles this year for a reason. (The NBA says that the circles “represent the three stages of competition” of group play, the quarterfinals, and the semifinals and championship.)
Last year’s courts received some harsh backlash, but the league is bringing them back for another round. Although this year’s group is a little less overwhelming, there are still some standouts, both good and bad. We’ll walk you through all of them with a quick verdict that we can’t promise will be serious.
(All images courtesy of the NBA.)
Atlanta Hawks
Yahoo Sports Verdict: The ATL stands for Atlanta, you see.
Boston Celtics
Yahoo Sports Verdict: This is a good example of playing to your strengths, although the green and black might still clash for some people.
Brooklyn Nets
Yahoo Sports Verdict: The meter font at the ends of the court works better than anything in borders.
Charlotte Hornets
Yahoo Sports Verdict: The bee patterns really work here.
Chicago Bulls
Yahoo Sports Verdict: A larger version of your logo in the background won’t offend anyone, Part 1.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Maybe we should just change the backgrounds of the Knights and Nets.
Dallas Mavericks
Yahoo Sports Verdict: A skyline silhouette never fails.
Denver Nuggets
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Here we see that the benefits of the Cup trophy actually match your color scheme.
Detroit Pistons
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Need more logos.
Golden State Warriors
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Introducing an alternate logo is actually not the worst use of the NBA Cup.
Houston Rockets
Yahoo Sports Verdict: This is what happens when you watch Star Wars on deadline night.
Indiana Pacers
Yahoo Sports Verdict: There really is no greater honor for a broadcaster than to make your words in 25-foot font.
Los Angeles Clippers
Yahoo Sports Verdict: The return of the Clippers script is a welcome development.
Los Angeles Lakers
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Los Angeles, the city where palm trees are as tall as skyscrapers. Also, is it too late for the Celtics to put their championship stars on the bottom?
Memphis Grizzlies
Yahoo Sports Verdict: The Grizzlies have been using that stylized “SELF” for a while and it works decently as both a logo and a geometric pattern.
Miami Heat
Yahoo Sports Verdict: We would love to be in the meeting where they landed just zoom in the upper right part of their logo.
Milwaukee Bucks
Yahoo Sports Verdict: There is another court with a giant doe waiting to see how this duel goes.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Yahoo Sports Verdict: This probably would have been better to focus more on the trees, without the “TIMBERWOLVES” across the middle.
New Orleans Pelicans
Yahoo Sports Verdict: A larger version of your logo in the background won’t offend anyone, Part 2.
New York Knicks
Yahoo Sports Verdict: We said that a skyline never fails, but it’s kind of weird that the Knicks have done basically nothing else.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Yahoo Sports Verdict: A larger version of your logo in the background won’t offend anyone, Part 3.
Orlando Magic
Yahoo Sports Verdict: We would give this design three stars, but someone already gave it eight.
Philadelphia 76ers
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Kudos to the Sixers for being the only team that actually incorporates the eye pattern that all these courts have going on.
Phoenix Suns
Yahoo Sports Verdict: The PHX stands for Phoenix, you see.
Portland Trail Blazers
Yahoo Sports Verdict: This could be the biggest winner of them all. Roses look good and the whole thing feels cohesive.
Sacrament Kings
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Anyone who struggled with geometry proofs in school is sweating this one.
San Antonio Spurs
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Yes, we are in Texas.
Toronto Raptors
Yahoo Sports Verdict: Nice use of the subtly jagged pinstripes of the jerseys.
Utah Jazz
Yahoo Sports Verdict: What, you expected something other than Utah mountains?
Washington Wizards
Yahoo Sports Verdict: As always, we’re not even sure we can say the Wizards tried. (This is a nod to the team’s old logo doesn’t help much.)
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