NBA decision-makers hoped the NBA Cup visuals would look very different from the regular season, but their neon dreams keep creating a glaring issue for tournament spectators on TV screens.

Friday saw the NBA Cup return with a ten-game slate and its yearly tradition of fans shaving to quint at a full lineup of overly saturated, color-blasted, textured wooden courts that blend into uniforms and sneakers.

The retina-searing courts once labeled "dangerous" by Luka Doncic serve a purpose: to match each team's unique uniforms, highlight the NBA Cup's unique standings, and remind fans those standings still count toward the overall standings.

The Phoenix Suns went full tangerine with a Cheeto-infused-looking floor as they faced the Denver Nuggets in one of the day's final games.

The Dallas Mavericks wore a piercing blue that nearly blended into Max Christie's sneakers. The Boston Celtics rolled out an emerald green court that belonged in the Wizard of Oz's Emerald City.

The Washington Wizards unveiled one of the night's ugliest setups: a red-dominated court paired with a blue-and-red jersey scheme that almost blended the players into the broadcast.

The same old social media complaints from years past came back as the row of games played out. One fan wrote, "These NBA Cup courts are so terrible," while another added, "Genuinely hard to watch on the eyes."

Another fan called the floors "horrible on TV," while a third basketball fan added, "An NFL field covered in crisp white snow is easier on the eyes than the NBA Cup courts."

User jokes ranged from needing an Advil before the final buzzer because of the bright colors to saying the league should ban the court designs for "assault on the eyes."

The NBA introduced the Cup to generate early-season interest, and the tournament has produced meaningful competition and a new trophy to chase.

Last year's championship game saw the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs with Jalen Brunson taking home Tournament MVP honors.

The matchup previewed the NBA Finals, where Brunson would also win MVP.

The Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023, with LeBron James named MVP. This year, James scored 20 points, had nine rebounds, and eight assists as his 76ers beat the Knicks on Saturday night.

The Milwaukee Bucks won in 2024, and the Knicks won in 2025, becoming the first franchise to win the Cup and the NBA Championship in the same season.