Grading the NBA In-Season Tournament Courts

The in-season tournament is here and I still have no clue as to why it’s a thing. The NBA released special courts that all 30 teams will use and the only word I can think of to express how I feel about them is “weird”. For the love of the game I will be giving out grades for all 30 courts and voice my opinions on them.

• Atlanta Hawks:  C +

Why is it blue? I would like the color scheme if it was Duke vs. UNC in Chapel Hill but it makes zero sense for the Hawks.

• Boston Celtics:  A –

I like this one a lot. The colors go well together and gives off a classic Celtics look, but if they play a team who has bright colors it would really ruin the asthetic.

• Brooklyn Nets:  C –

Two shades of gray is so boring. It looks like they’re playing on concrete during recess.

• Charlotte Hornets:  B –

It’s calm, nothing really stands out but it’s not ugly like a lot of the other courts. The Hornets logo is really dope which is too bad because their team is awful.

• Chicago Bulls:  D

The floor is lava.

• Cleveland Cavaliers:  B +

This could actually be the Cavs home court perminantly. Didn’t go over the top with crazy colors or two that don’t mesh well together. Well done.

• Dallas Mavericks:  C –

It’s the reverse version of the Nets. Lame.

• Denver Nuggets:  B

The colors are cool. My only issues with this one is that it reminds me of the Warriors and I would rather see their logo in the middle instead of the altitude thing.

• Detroit Pistons:  C

This is better than the other gray ones because they included a different color so they get effort points.

• Golden State Warriors:  A

This may be a bad take but I like it because it reminds me of old school basketball floors from the Wilt Chamberlain days. The Blacked out logo is awesome as well.

• Houston Rockets:  A –

I like this one a lot because it gives me a 1950’s Diner look to it. The Rockets are trash but this court rocks.

• Indiana Pacers:  F

Those aren’t even the Pacers colors. I wouldn’t be able to focus on whats going on in the game, it screams 2012 music festival. The only highlight about this one is the fact that it looks like one.

• Los Angeles Clippers:  C –

Meh. Would have liked to see them incorporate their Buffalo Braves logo/colors in here but the Clippers never do anything right. I love Kawhi Leonard.

• Los Angeles Lakers:  B +

Pretty cool, it gives off the classic Lakers purple and gold.

• Memphis Grizzlies:  C –

I’m tired of the gray courts.

• Miami Heat:  B +

I like the mix of red and smoke gray for this one, and the Heat’s logo looks really dope too.

• Milwaukee Bucks:  D +

The Bucks cream jerseys are one of the best in the whole league but it doesn’t hit at all in court form. The mix of the cream and green is nasty man.

• Minnesota Timberwolves:  B –

These aren’t terrible. I like the lighter blue rather than their darker look now, it gives of Kevin Garnett T-wolves vibes.

• New Orleans Pelicans:  B –

It’s cool, gives off good NOLA energy.

• New York Knicks:  C

The NBA/Nerf collab we never saw coming.

• Oklahoma City Thunder:  C

The ball is gonna look cool on this.

• Orlando Magic:  C

This is what the Yankees home court would look like. I like the retro Magic logo though.

• Philadelphia 76ers:  B

The sixers had a chance for this to be an A if they would’ve used their gold logo from when Allen Iverson played.

• Phoenix Suns:  A

This is so cool and it reminds me of the 90’s for some reason. They need to wear their purple jerseys on this thing.

• Portland Trailblazers:  A –

The plaid logo does it for me. This could honestly work as the blazers permanent home court.

• Sacramento Kings:  B –

I like it but those just arent the Kings colors and I’m not sure why but this gives off supermarket energy.

• San Antonio Spurs:  B +

The idea is cool, not sure how their jerseys will look on it though. Also reminds me of Tequila.

• Toronto Raptors:  A +

This is insane! The NBA fumbled with gray for other teams but it works well with black and the gold stands out in the best way. I’m pretty sure Drake has a similar court in his house.

• Utah Jazz:  A –

I like this a ton, but the Jazz need to wear their purple or white throwbacks on this or else this would be a B.

• Washington Wizards:  D +

Where does the green come from?