Understanding the NBA Play-In Format: How It Works

NBA play-in tournament history

The NBA play-in tournament was introduced in 2020 as a temporary solution for the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season but has since become a permanent fixture in the league’s postseason structure. 

Its main goal was to generate more excitement in the final stages of the regular season by giving additional teams a chance to qualify for the playoffs. Previously, only the top eight teams from each conference automatically advanced to the playoffs. 

With the play-in tournament, the seventh to tenth seeds in each conference now compete for the final two playoff spots. This format adds a layer of drama, as teams that finish as high as seventh are no longer guaranteed a postseason berth, while those on the bubble, such as the ninth and tenth seeds, get a second chance to extend their seasons.

The initial play-in tournament in 2020 was a simplified version, only involving the eighth and ninth seeds in the Western Conference. The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies battled for the final playoff spot, with Portland coming out on top. After this successful trial, the NBA expanded the format in 2021 to include both conferences and added more teams. 

The new structure features a mini-tournament where the seventh and eighth seeds play one game to determine who secures the seventh seed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the ninth and tenth seeds face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the seventh vs. eighth game. The victor of this final matchup earns the eighth seed.

Is the NBA Play-In Tournament popular?

The play-in tournament has drawn mixed reactions from players and fans alike. Some criticize it for undermining the regular season, arguing that teams that finished seventh or eighth after 82 games should not have to play additional games to secure their playoff spots. Others, however, view it as an exciting wrinkle, injecting unpredictability into the postseason. 

The tournament has produced thrilling moments, with standout performances from stars like LeBron James, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to a play-in victory in 2021 despite finishing seventh in the Western Conference, and Stephen Curry, who led the Golden State Warriors in a dramatic battle the same year.

LeBron James & Steph Curry

James has, however, been an outspoken critic of the Play-In Tournament. That same year, he said: "Whoever came up with that s--- needs to be fired."

Mark Cuban, the former principal owner and current minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, also called the Play-In Tournament an "enormous mistake".

Despite the mixed opinions, the play-in tournament has proven effective in keeping more teams engaged in the playoff race until the very end of the regular season. 

It has also reduced tanking – which is the practice of deliberately playing poorly in order to secure a better draft lottery position – as even teams sitting in tenth place have a realistic chance to compete for a postseason spot.