It was an eventful week for the Oklahoma City Thunder as they faced a demanding schedule in the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup. Oklahoma City will now face the Milwaukee Bucks in the championship game on Tuesday night and had to defeat two of the best teams in the Western Conference to get to that point – the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets.

The NBA Cup has been a polarizing topic among NBA fans. On the one hand, it offers a unique experience and gives games an additional meaning. On the other hand, teams that advance further into the tournament face a more demanding schedule and the opportunity to play an additional game on top of their regular season schedule. Coaches and players across the league have expressed differing opinions on the concept of this seasonal tournament, but it undeniably serves its purpose by providing more excitement at the start of the season.

But what’s really at stake for the Thunder in this NBA Cup championship on Tuesday?

First of all, it’s important to note that the NBA Cup Championship Game does not count toward the regular season standings. This is essentially the 83rd game for both Oklahoma City and Milwaukee, the outcome of which has no bearing on the standings or statistical records. In a broader sense, this game has no direct impact on the rest of the season.

Even then, playing important games remains crucial in the NBA, especially for a young team like the Thunder. Head coach Mark Daigneault understands the value of these high-pressure moments as they provide invaluable experience for his developing squad. He has mentioned many times in the past that every experience – good or bad – is a great opportunity to learn and get better. For a team with playoff aspirations and championship ambitions in the near future, a match like this could undoubtedly bring longer-term benefits, particularly situationally. While it may not count in the standings, there is a lot at stake and the intensity will reflect that.

In addition, there is significant prize money at stake. The Thunder and Bucks players have already earned more than $200,000 each for their promotion so far, but another $300,000 is at stake in the championship game. For teams that progressed past the group stage, the prize pool increased with each round, making this a financially rewarding process for the players involved.

• Quarterfinal loser: $51,497 per player
• Semifinal loser $102,994 per player
• Championship loser: $205,988 per player
• Championship winner: $514,970 per player

For younger players or those who don’t have lucrative contracts, that’s a significant amount – especially for those who make it as far as the Thunder and Bucks.

When weighing the negative impact of advancing so far in the NBA Cup, additional schedule challenges are at the top of the list. Teams previously eliminated in the knockout rounds enjoyed several days off between the end of their NBA Cup run and the resumption of regular season play. Additionally, some of the league’s top teams that failed to advance past the group stage were rewarded with games against some of the NBA’s bottom teams. Meanwhile, the Thunder’s path led them to play three of the league’s best teams in the knockout rounds and then face the Orlando Magic in Florida on Thursday and the Miami Heat on Friday in back-to-back games. This will be a continuation of the road trip that the team has spent the last few days in Las Vegas.

The extra play and grueling schedule illustrate a downside to NBA Cup success, with the compact schedule for championship teams likely something the league will consider in future iterations of the tournament. For now, it’s a challenge that Oklahoma City must accept. Three games in four nights across multiple time zones is no small feat, but represents another opportunity for growth and resilience. In the end, this experience could prove to be a crucial test for the young Thunder team and likely make them stronger in the future.

In short, advancing to this stage of the NBA Cup is a great opportunity for the Oklahoma City Thunder that brings valuable experience and the potential for more prize money, even if it results in an additional game that doesn’t count toward the standings more compact and challenging for the rest of the week.