Kieran Shannon: NBA discover magic of the Cup - and LeBron James

Silver felt the time was right to try the model out in the pro game after identifying that the early months of the NBA season tended to be overshadowed hugely by the NFL.

CHAMPS: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament after their victory in the championship game over the Indiana Pacers. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Exactly 40 years after Noel Keating and Irish basketball came up with something similar over here, Adam Silver and the NBA this season decided to shake things up by adding a Cup.

It’s not known if Silver is au fait with the Irish example in his own sport; going by various interviews he’s given, it’s European — and especially English — soccer that he’s taken his lead and inspiration from. Whatever, it has worked, like its long-distance Irish cousin all those years ago.