July 16 will mark the return of The Basketball Tournament — and one of the most exciting endings in sports.
The Basketball Tournament, a 64-team competition that rewards the winner with a $1 million grand prize, doesn't use a traditional game clock for the ending of its games. Instead, it features the Elam Ending, which basketball fans may recall has also been used in recent NBA All-Star Games.
How does the Elam Ending work? It's actually a pretty straightforward concept.
MORE: The Basketball Tournament Viewer's Guide
What is the Elam Ending?
Under the Elam Ending format, the game clock is shut off in the fourth quarter, and teams must hit a target score in order to win. The target score is set by adding eight points to the leading team's total. For example, if the score is 100-90, the target score would be 108.
The Elam Ending puts pressure on teams to lock in defensively rather than repeatedly fouling in an effort to stop the clock. It also sets up some incredibly exciting possessions when teams bring the ball up the floor with an opportunity to win.
Look no further than LeBron James' game-winning shot at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
Who created the Elam Ending?
Ball State University professor Nick Elam created the Elam Ending, which he originally called the "Hybrid Duration Format." He began working on the format in 2004 after he grew frustrated while watching the end of 2004 NCAA Tournament games.
After years of analysis, Elam determined that not only did trailing teams often intentionally foul, but the strategy also failed the vast majority of the time. He wrote up his proposal and sent it to The Basketball Tournament in 2016, and it was implemented the next year.
What is 'The Sling Shot'?
On July 14, Sling TV announced that it had partnered with The Basketball Tournament. As part of the agreement, the final shot of each game will be called "The Sling Shot."
"We're proud to announce Sling as the official tournament sponsor and unveil the game winning 'Sling Shot,' which will be featured in every TBT matchup," TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar said. "This partnership highlights one of the Elam Ending's most marketable facets: Every game ends with its most clutch shot.
"And by combining Sling's live television value with TBT's intensity, fans will get an electrifying experience for this year's tournament."
How to watch The Basketball Tournament
- When: July 16-Aug. 2
- TV channel: ESPN family of networks
- Streaming: ESPN app | Sling TV
The Basketball Tournament will be televised on ESPN's family of networks: ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. You can also stream The Basketball Tournament on the ESPN app and Sling TV, the official streaming partner of The Basketball Tournament.
Viewers who sign up for Sling TV get half off the first month with no long-term contracts. Watch The Basketball Tournament live on ESPN and enjoy access to sports programming on the ESPN family of networks.
