The NBA In-Season Tournament semi-finals will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas amongst the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Los Angeles Lakers.On Wednesday, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported that Lakers star LeBron James praised players buying tournament tickets.LeBron James: “Adam Silver is a genius.” Indeed, it is simple. I feel it working.

Many agree with the Lakers star that the tournament has been terrific. The NBA In-Season Tournament has provided thrilling basketball despite initial concerns about colored courts and scheduling. It also helped the league because it happened before Christmas, when many sports enthusiasts start paying attention to the NBA.

Player investment is high for two reasons. The money is there. Each winning team member will receive $500,000 for their contributions. Big salaries are great for everyone, but they mean more for players on less lucrative contracts.Second, NBA players are naturally competitive, which should explain why LeBron James is enjoying the tournament. At the start of the season, playoff-style games will motivate players. Ratings, fan satisfaction, game intensity, and product enjoyment all improve.

The NBA In-Season Tournament semi-final clash between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans is Thursday. Before that, the Indiana Pacers play the Milwaukee Bucks.