It isn't hard to get NBA players excited and motivated to play in an in-season tournament over the last few years.
The motivation from them would be the same motivation for thousands of players around the globe: money.
As the New York Knicks prepare for their Knockout Round contest of the NBA Cup against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, the team understands the motivation of each win is enough to bring everyone together.
"I think there's money involved," Knicks captain Jalen Brunson said. "So I think there's a lot of motivation regardless."
New York has done a remarkable job of improving their chemistry with so many changes to the roster to start the season. Gone went Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. In replace came Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks haven't been perfect through the first 25 games of the season - including their undefeated NBA Cup run, but they do the little things well that make them a well-coached team.
"We've got a great group of guys to work with. So just be honest. And we want to understand why we either win or why we lose," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We always have the belief we can do things better. So we get everything working together, good things are going to come from that.
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"It's a team game, so we want to have a five-man offense, five-man defense. When you do that it's enjoyable for everyone. When everyone is participating in the team and sacrificing and putting the team first. So we've got great character on our team."
Last season, New York reached the exact same round they find themselves in before being bounced out by the Milwaukee Bucks in a 146-122 contest.
The Knicks are hoping for better results this time around and an extra cash bonus should do the trick to get everyone up for it as well.
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This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 3:14 PM.