The league's decision to introduce the NBA Cup, also known as the In-Season Tournament last season, has added a new dimension to basketball fandom—providing fans with something to get excited about during the quieter months of the NBA season.
Whether it truly gets people talking or engages fans in viewership is another matter, but you can't deny its allure for the participating players, who are promised a substantial cash prize if they succeed. In addition to that, there's the shiny cup to hoist above their shoulders. While it may not be the Larry O'Brien trophy, it's still a noteworthy accomplishment.
Well, your newly crowned 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Champions are the Milwaukee Bucks from the Eastern Conference. The Bucks triumphed over the Oklahoma City Thunder, securing a final score of 97-81. One player the Bucks can thank for their successful NBA Cup Championship game is former Toronto Raptors player Gary Trent Jr.
The Bucks are the 2024 #EmiratesNBACup Champions! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/TiOp0m1iX7
— NBA (@NBA) December 18, 2024
Trent Jr. had a notably quiet first half in the final NBA Cup game, struggling to find his rhythm within the Bucks' offense. However, that would all change for Trent Jr. as the second half began. On a night when the Thunder squad struggled from distance, Trent Jr. emerged as a key player for the Bucks, helping to rub salt in the wound.
Trent Jr. knocked down three of his six three-pointers, finishing 5-for-9 overall from the field, and recorded a crucial steal in the third quarter to help energize his team.
Gary Trent Jr. was stellar in the NBA Cup Championship game
The long-standing narrative surrounding Trent Jr. has been his struggle to produce effectively when his team needs him most—at least, that was largely the case during his time in Toronto. It became clear that if Gary Trent Jr. can’t find his shot, he doesn’t contribute much to the team. This was largely why Toronto decided against agreeing to his agent's high asking price last offseason.
Many Raptors fans will never forget his dismal performance of 1-for-7 shooting, including 0-for-5 from three-point range, during the 2023 Play-In; it stands as a lowlight testament to Trent Jr.'s streaky nature. This storyline continued into his early-season campaign with the Bucks this year, where he found himself trending as one of the least effective players in the NBA.
Trent Jr. was once touted as a potential X-factor for the future of Toronto Raptors basketball, with his ability to provide instant scoring and sharpshooting. However, his 2021-22 campaign, which had initially shown promise, ultimately proved to be his peak, as he failed to break out beyond that threshold.
Thankfully for Trent Jr., impactful performances like the one he delivered in the NBA Cup Championship game provide the fuel needed to counter those claims of mediocrity and underperformance.
While Trent Jr.’s once promising potential to emerge as a 20+ point-per-game scorer may have seemed to fade, if he can sustain the level of play he showcased during the NBA Cup, it’s possible that many have been too quick to judge his longevity in the league. Perhaps this marks the beginning of a new trajectory for Trent Jr.’s basketball career.
And with it, Trent Jr. might just be having the last laugh over Raptors fans and the organization that seemingly lost all faith in his game.