It’s uncertain whether the NBA Cup will still be significant 30 years from now.

In fact, no one can predict what the future holds for either the world or the NBA in three decades.

For instance, thirty years ago, who could have imagined a player achieving 40,000 career points while still playing at an elite level near age 40? Or that following the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a non-American would win the league’s MVP award for six years running from 2019 to 2024?

The NBA Cup is part of a broader vision for the league’s future. They have revamped the “in-season tournament,” crafted a trophy, and secured a title sponsor to kick off this event last season.

The NBA’s commitment is evident, highlighted by an extensive promotional effort featuring actors like Michael Imperioli and Rosario Dawson alongside NBA stars such as Steph Curry; specially created NBA Cup courts for each team (with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver being a fan of the vibrant designs); and distinct uniforms for both home and away games.

The Emirates NBA Cup starts on Tuesday, and the league aims to build on the modest success from last season, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Indiana Pacers. The average viewership for the NBA Cup final reached 4.58 million, marking it as the most-watched non-Christmas game since February 2018. Factors like the presence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers and an exciting Pacers team featuring rising star Tyrese Haliburton contributed to its success.

As the event, spanning 67 games, transitions from group play to the elimination rounds, teams are motivated to succeed. Each player on the NBA Cup championship team stands to gain a substantial financial bonus, with nearly $515,000 on the line this season.

Here’s a quick overview: The Eastern Conference’s 15 teams are split into three groups of five, while the Western Conference’s 15 teams are also divided into three groups of five. Each team within a group will compete against each other once, playing two games at home and two away on Tuesdays and Fridays, kicking off Tuesday and concluding group play on December 3.

Eight teams will proceed to the quarterfinals: the group winners from each conference plus one wild card (the second-place team in a group that wins the tiebreaker). The semifinals are set for December 14, and the championship matchup (East winner vs. West winner) will take place on December 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Except for the final, all games contribute to each team’s overall win-loss record.

Some minor adjustments have been made to the NBA Cup rules, such as not counting overtime points in tiebreakers for points differential and total points. There are also some exciting matchups in the groups: in the West, Group C features Denver, Dallas, New Orleans, Golden State, and Memphis, while the East’s Group A includes New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Charlotte.

The NBA aims to establish a significant event early in the season that generates viewer interest following the World Series and before Christmas while filling a gap when few major football games are played.

Nearly a year ago, during the final of the NBA Cup, Silver remarked, “I appreciate the players, coaches, and teams for welcoming this new initiative. I recognize that there are challenges involved. Certainly, we are learning through this process. Overall, we are excited about the interest thus far this season.”

Establishing traditions takes time, not just a single or even a couple of seasons. Real-time evaluations can reflect on metrics like TV ratings, ticket sales, fan engagement, and the competitiveness of games.

However, the ultimate test of the NBA Cup’s long-term success or failure will unfold over the next 10, 15, 20, or even 30 years.