The NBA is set to bring an additional level of excitement to the early season with the announcement of the second NBA Cup, previously known as the In-Season Tournament. With dates and format officially revealed, the anticipation for this year’s tournament is palpable.
The Tournament Schedule
The NBA Cup will commence group-play action starting on November 12, and will continue until the semifinals and championship games, which will be hosted in Las Vegas on December 14 and December 17, respectively. This change in format aims to inject significance into what are typically less thrilling early-season games.
Last Season’s Highlights
Reflecting on the previous season, the Los Angeles Lakers were the standout team, clinching victory against the Indiana Pacers with a commanding 123-109 win in the finale. LeBron James played a pivotal role in this triumph, earning the prestigious tournament MVP honors. Each member of the Lakers team was rewarded with $500,000, while the runners-up, the Pacers players, took home $200,000.
Current Format and Team Assignments
This year’s NBA Cup maintains the same format as last year. All 30 NBA teams will be randomly assigned into six groups of five, based on their records from the previous season. The drawing of groups is scheduled to take place this Friday. Teams will compete on assigned "Cup Nights," which will occur on Tuesdays and Fridays between November 12 and December 3. Each team is set to face the other four teams in their group once, ensuring a robust schedule of competitive games.
The top team from each of the six groups will earn a place in the knockout stage. Additionally, two wild card teams from each conference, which have the best records in group play but finished second in their groups, will also advance. This setup will bring the total number of teams in the knockout phase to eight.
Knockout Stage Dynamics
The knockout stage is slated to begin on December 10 and will utilize a single-elimination format. The semifinals and finals will take place in Las Vegas, providing a thrilling climax to the competition with the semifinals on December 14 and the championship game on December 17. Both the winners and the runners-up are promised a substantial prize money pool, adding an extra incentive for the teams participating.
New Logo and Sponsorship
In addition to maintaining the structure and excitement from the previous year, the NBA has also revamped the NBA Cup logo. The new design prominently features the name of the tournament, the trophy, and the event's official sponsor, Emirates, underscoring the growing prestige of this early-season contest.
Building on Success
The introduction of the NBA Cup last season significantly uplifted interest and competitiveness early in the NBA schedule. The league is optimistic that this year’s tournament will build upon the successful foundation laid last season, continuing to elevate the enthusiasm and engagement among fans, players, and teams alike.
With November fast approaching, fans and teams eagerly await the tipoff of the NBA Cup, which promises to deliver high-stakes basketball action well before the traditional postseason begins.