The Golden State Warriors are gearing up for the NBA's novel In-Season Tournament, with the team expecting a highly competitive atmosphere. The tournament will feature all 30 teams competing in group play and knockout rounds for a chance at the prize pool and the NBA Cup trophy. Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated that the players are already self-motivated and excited for the new challenge. The Warriors, despite their previous success with four NBA titles, view this tournament as a challenge and an opportunity to sharpen their game. Kerr emphasized that the games will feel meaningful as they will count towards the teams' regular-season record.
The tournament will run until December 9th and will feature new courts and the league's city edition jerseys. All 30 teams have been randomly grouped within their conference based on their win-loss records from the previous season, and each team will play four group-phase games. Kerr also mentioned that while they are taking the tournament seriously, they will still prioritize the long-term health of the team and manage the workloads of their star players, such as Stephen Curry. The Warriors will aim to remain highly competitive throughout the tournament while also ensuring the well-being of their key players.